JERUSALEM (JTA) — The Independence Party, the new Israeli political party formed by Ehud Barak, held its inaugural meeting.
The party met Thursday in Tel Aviv. Barak, a former Labor Party chairman and currently Israel’s defense minister, was elected chairman by the party’s 80 members.
Knesset member Einat Wilf; Home Front Command Minister Matan Vilnai; Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Shalom Simhon; and Agriculture Minister Orit Noked left Labor with Barak to form the Independence Party and they make up its secretariat.
The secretariat will determine how candidates for the Knesset will be chosen. Barak said the party will present an equal number of men and women.
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