The Labor Party indicated on Monday that reports of its death, as Mark Twain once said, were exaggerated. Labor members came out to participate in the primary, surprising everyone with a demonstration of energy that stood in stark contrast to the party’s terrifying free-fall in the polls.

Labor hopes the jubilant atmosphere that prevailed at Tel Aviv’s Fairgrounds, where the party faithful gathered to hear the results and congratulate the winners, will be remembered as a turning point in its fortunes. If their critics are right, however, the festive night will probably end up being compared to a gala ball on the Titanic.