JERUSALEM -- Yitzhak Rabin ousted Shimon Peres for leadership of Israel's opposition Labor party Thursday, winning a primary to become its candidate in June national elections against the ruling right-wing Likud party.
Rabin, a former Prime Minister, gained 40.6 percent of the vote, compared with 34.5 percent for longtime rival Peres, also a former Prime Minister.
The tally put Rabin, 69, just over the forty percent threshold necessary for nomination, thus bringing to an end fifteen years of party leadership by Peres.
Peres called Rabin early Thursday morning to concede defeat and congratulate him on his victory. The two adversaries agreed on the need to work together in order to defeat the ruling Likud party in the June national elections.
Rabin, who has a reputation as a hawk in security matters, has said he hopes to draw away large numbers of the Likud's right-wing voters. He takes credit for bringing Israeli troops home from a seemingly endless war in Lebanon while serving as defense minister from 1984 to 1986.
Yisrael Kessar, head of the Histadrut trade union, made a surprisingly strong showing as an underdog candidate for party leadership, tallying about nineteen percent of the vote. Deputy Ora Namir drew only five percent in the contest. The figures are to be double checked in the coming days in accord with party regulations, Labor officials said.
The polling marked the first full primary in Israeli political history, with more than 100,000 out of 150,000 Labor party members participating. Previously, the party chairman was chosen within a restricted central committee of party bosses and their clients.
The balloting was marred by the cancellation of voting for 500 party members in Kiryat Shemona, a city near the Lebanese border, after Katyusha rockets were fired into Israel and its self-proclaimed South Lebanon 'security zone' for the third day in a row.
The attacks came from pro-Iranian Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon, outraged by the killing of their leader Abbas Musavi by Israeli forces.
Polling stations elsewhere in northe Israel remained open, however.
Likud's central committee will choose its candidate for Prime Minister Thursday, with incumbent Yitzhak Shamir being challenged by Housing Minister Ariel Sharon and Foreign Minister David Levy.
Labor, which ruled Israel from 1948 to 1977, has never quite recovered from a stunning upset at the hands of Likud that year. It briefly regained the premiership under Peres in a power-sharing plan with Likud from 1984 to 1986.
The transfer of the decision-making power to the party rank-and- file boosted Rabin's prospects, since in previous contests Peres was able to draw upon considerable leverage in the central committee.
Namir staffers complained of electoral improprieties by Peres and Kessar supporters in the coastal city of Rishon LeZion, saying the two candidates backers were soliciting votes inside the polling stations.
Peres campaigned on the slogan of being 'the best person for the job.' As Prime Minister from 1984 to 1986, he scored a number of successes, taming rampant inflation, and improving Israel's image abroad.
Rabin has said he would be willing to appoint Peres as a cabinet minister if he wins the elections, provided the ousted Labor leader respects Rabin's authority as chief decision-maker.
