The Israeli Left in the 1999 elections

Following three years in opposition, the Israeli Left came back to power in the 1999 elections. Barak achieved 56%, while his opponent, Netanyahu, the incumbent prime minister, gained 44%. Barak won the 1997 primaries in the Labour Party, defeating two extreme doves (Ben-Ami & Beilin) & former health minister Sneh. Barak's success was rooted in his brilliant military career, his anti-politics image, & his centrist positions. His support from the new Russian Jewish immigrants & antagonism toward the Sephardi religious Shas party contributed to his overwhelming electoral triumph. Despite his success, Labour dropped to 26 parliamentary seats, although it remained the largest political party in the Knesset. Adapted from the source document.