The April 1977 Israeli Labor Party leadership election was held on 11 April 1977. It saw Defense Minister

Shimon Peres Shimon Peres (; he, שמעון פרס ; born Szymon Perski; 2 August 1923 – 28 September 2016) was an Israeli politician who served as the eighth prime minister of Israel from 1984 to 1986 and from 1995 to 1996 and as the ninth president of ...

elected by the party's central committee by acclamation to replace Yitzhak Rabin as the party's leader, being unchallenged in the vote. The vote took place following the resignation of Rabin on 7 April 1977, and was also in advance of the

1977 Knesset election Legislative elections were held in Israel on 17 May 1977 to elect the ninth Knesset. For the first time in Israeli political history, the right wing, led by Likud, won a plurality of seats, ending almost 30 years of rule by the left-wing Alignme ...

. Since it was only months since the February 1977 leadership election had taken place by a convention vote, the party opted against holding another convention vote, and instead opted for a vote of its 815-member Central Committee.

Foreign Minister A foreign affairs minister or minister of foreign affairs (less commonly minister for foreign affairs) is generally a cabinet minister in charge of a state's foreign policy and relations. The formal title of the top official varies between cou ...

Yigal Allon, who had been Peres' only challenger, stepped aside in deference to Peres, with the promise that he would receive the ministerial position of his choice if Labor led the government formed after the pending Knesset election (Allon had made it known he desired to become defense minister). After this, following hours of discussion, the party's leadership announced on 10 April 1977 their endorsement of Peres as the party's new leader. Peres was formally elected on 11 April by acclamation, using a show of hands.

References

{{Reflist 1977 02 Labor Party leadership 02 Israeli Labor Party leadership election 02 Shimon Peres Israeli Labor Party leadership election