Israeli Labor Party secretary resigns

JERUSALEM, June 5 (JTA) — Israeli Labor Party secretary Nissim Zvilli has resigned. The move came two days after Ehud Barak was elected chairman of the Labor Party. Zvilli announced his plans to step down last month, after the Labor Party convention rejected his proposal to create the honorary title of president for outgoing party leader Shimon Peres. Zvilli said at the time that he felt the spirit of comradeliness in the party had been lost and had been replaced by the political ambitions of individuals. After a brief meeting Thursday with Barak, Zvilli said he had recommended to the new chairman not to abolish the position of party secretary. Zvilli warned it would be akin to abandoning the local party branches. He said Barak did not tell him whether he intended to call elections for a new party secretary or abolish the title and appoint an administrative manager.