Internal Histadrut court previously ruled that Cabel couldn't rule because he hadn't paid monthly membership for year.
By GIL STERN STERN HOFFMANHistadrut chair Ofer Eini at Labor Court_311(photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem)
Labor Party secretary-general Hilik Bar warned MK Eitan Cabel (Labor) on Monday not to run against the party’s candidate, Ofer Eini, in the May 22 race for Histadrut Labor Federation chief.The party decided at a November convention to back Eini’s reelection even though he is not running under the Labor banner. Cabel intends to challenge Eini with the backing of Labor leader Shelly Yacimovich’s nemesis, MK Amir Peretz.“Labor has democratic institutions that have the power to take punitive action against anyone who violates their decisions,” Bar said.Cabel responded that Labor would be advanced much more if he wins than if the Histadrut continues to be controlled by Eini. He noted that in Labor’s deal with Eini, the party only received 12 percent of the union’s posts.“I don’t intend to make an issue out of this but if someone wants to play games, I can’t stop them,” Cabel said. “I hope common sense will win out in the end.”Cabel already started attacking Eini, who he said has never been elected to anything in his life and has done everything possible to prevent him from having any competition.The Tel Aviv District Court ruled late Sunday night that Cabel could seek the chairmanship of the Histadrut, despite not paying membership dues for the required period of time.Peretz had promised in advance of the court hearing that if Cabel was permitted to run he would drop out. Cabel and Peretz met on Monday to discuss strategy for defeating Eini.
