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Vote ends in Israel party primary Peretz 'loses' Israel party vote
(40 minutes later)
Voting has ended in the Israeli Labour Party's leadership election, a contest which could determine the fate of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's government. Israel's Defence Minister, Amir Peretz, has lost his bid to remain head of the Labour Party, exit polls indicate.
Early exit polls indicate that the defence minister, Amir Peretz, has lost his bid to remain head of the party. One exit poll predicted a win for former Prime Minister Ehud Barak, while another poll forecast a victory for the former head of Shin Bet, Ami Ayalon.
But neither former Prime Minister Ehud Barak nor the former head of Shin Bet, Ami Ayalon, appear to have won the 40% of votes needed to avoid a run-off. But neither contender appears to have won the 40% needed to avoid a second round run-off in two weeks' time.
Preliminary results are expected to be announced at 2330 (2030 GMT). Both men have threatened to pull Labour out of the ruling coalition unless Prime Minister Ehud Olmert steps down.
The leadership contest has been described as the most significant moment for Labour in the last 15 years. This follows damning criticism of Mr Olmert's leadership in an official report on the handling of the Lebanon war last year.
Both Mr Barak and Mr Ayalon have threatened to pull the party out of the ruling coalition unless Mr Olmert steps down from office.
This follows damning criticism of his leadership in an official report on the handling of the Lebanon war last year.
Close callClose call
The BBC's Mike Sergeant in Jerusalem says the race is much too close to call, with exit polls for two Israeli television channels predicting two different results.The BBC's Mike Sergeant in Jerusalem says the race is much too close to call, with exit polls for two Israeli television channels predicting two different results.
A poll for Channel Two said Mr Ayalon was on track to win 39% of the vote, compared to 33% for Mr Barak and 19% for Mr Peretz.A poll for Channel Two said Mr Ayalon was on track to win 39% of the vote, compared to 33% for Mr Barak and 19% for Mr Peretz.
Israel TV said its poll gave Mr Barak 38%, Mr Ayalon 36%, and Mr Peretz 17%.Israel TV said its poll gave Mr Barak 38%, Mr Ayalon 36%, and Mr Peretz 17%.
Mr Ayalon appeared to be ahead in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and the kibbutzim, while Mr Barak was leading in Dimona, Holon and the Druze village, Beit Jan. Mr Peretz was in the lead in Lod, Bat Yam and Eilat.
Both polls, however, predicted the two men would fail to reach the 40% threshold required to avoid a run-off election on 12 June.Both polls, however, predicted the two men would fail to reach the 40% threshold required to avoid a run-off election on 12 June.
Labour officials said at least 58% of the 103,498 party members voted in the election. Labour officials said 65.5% of the 103,000 party members voted in the election.
Final results for the election are expected on Tuesday morning.Final results for the election are expected on Tuesday morning.
Fresh facesFresh faces
Mr Barak, who served as prime minister from 1999 to 2001, has been the biggest name in the race.Mr Barak, who served as prime minister from 1999 to 2001, has been the biggest name in the race.
Amir Peretz was heavily criticised over last year's war with Lebanon Ehud Barak (l) and Ami Ayalon (r) are running neck and neck
During his two turbulent years in office, Israeli troops withdrew from Lebanon, peace talks ended in failure and the Palestinian intifada, or uprising, began.During his two turbulent years in office, Israeli troops withdrew from Lebanon, peace talks ended in failure and the Palestinian intifada, or uprising, began.
Mr Barak still has many enemies in Israel and within his own party, our correspondent says.Mr Barak still has many enemies in Israel and within his own party, our correspondent says.
They accuse him of arrogance, and a stubborn refusal to delegate or listen to advice when in office. The former prime minister says he is a changed man.They accuse him of arrogance, and a stubborn refusal to delegate or listen to advice when in office. The former prime minister says he is a changed man.
During the campaign, Mr Barak has shunned the media, instead spending all his time talking direct to party members.During the campaign, Mr Barak has shunned the media, instead spending all his time talking direct to party members.
But, according to our correspondent, that direct contact with party members has not given him a clear advantage over Israel's former internal security chief, Mr Ayalon.But, according to our correspondent, that direct contact with party members has not given him a clear advantage over Israel's former internal security chief, Mr Ayalon.
A relative political novice, Mr Ayalon has been in parliament for just one year.A relative political novice, Mr Ayalon has been in parliament for just one year.
But that gives him fresh appeal, our correspondent says, and he has vital experience in the area that matters the most to Israelis - security.But that gives him fresh appeal, our correspondent says, and he has vital experience in the area that matters the most to Israelis - security.