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Could machinations foil Kadima vote on primary? By Mazal Mualem, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Ehud Olmert, primaries  Members of Kadima's party council on Thursday accused Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his associates of trying to sabotage the vote that would lead to a party primary in September and presumably to the ousting of Olmert. Kadima is having difficulty mustering a majority in the council for the primary in September, a step it agreed to with the Labor Party. The vote, which began a week ago, closes Sunday night. But, as of Thursday, only some 70 of the council's 180 members had cast their ballots at the party's headquarters in Petah Tikva. A majority of at least 91 votes is required to change the party's regulations and thus hold the election. Party members said Olmert's political adviser, Shlomo Yitzhak, is spearheading a move to foil the primary and urging council members to vote against it, or at least to abstain. Advertisement If the required majority is not mustered by Sunday, Kadima would not be able to launch the primary officially. Last Thursday Kadima's council met to vote on changing party regulations to hold the primary. Olmert himself, as party chief, brought up the proposal after realizing he would not be able to avoid the move. Senior party members said Olmert wanted to postpone the official decision on a primary for as long as possible, at least until Morris Talansky's cross-examination. Talansky is the key witness in the investigation of corruption allegations against Olmert. The prime minister believed the cross-examination would improve his image within the party and among the public and possibly prevent his imminent departure. "It's absurd," said a senior Kadima figure on Thursday, that Olmert raised the proposal for changing the regulations and then sent people to sabotage it. "If he continues like this, it will not be a quiet, polite deposing but a degrading one," he said. Olmert's adviser rejected the accusations. "These are groundless rumors. I didn't ask anyone to vote for or against [the proposal.] The prime minister himself will vote, and I believe the resolution will be adopted," he said. Kadima's council consists of its Knesset faction and dozens of local authority heads and party functionaries. The mayors are seen as close to the prime minister and depend on party funds for the upcoming municipal elections in November. MK Yitzhak Ben-Yisrael, who supports Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni for Kadima's leadership, has been trying to persuade council members to vote. "I don't know if [people] are acting against the vote but until now half the council members haven't voted," he said. "If the regulations aren't changed, the decision to hold the primaries would be in vain, and that would be very bad for Kadima." Housing and Construction Minister Zeev Boim (Kadima) said he hoped the party council would pass the proposal, and that he had not heard of attempts to foil the vote. "It would harm the party if this happens. We must maintain political integrity," he said. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Farewell ambassador Even the Arab envoys came to say goodbyeto Israel's UN ambassador Dan Gillerman. A tale of two mothers Israeli documentary 'To Die in Jerusalem' earns three Emmy nominations.   1.   Olmert is sick 07:30  |  Harry 18/07/08   2.   NO! Olmert made certrain of that...... 09:37  |  Dolly 18/07/08   3.   How sleazy can Mert get? Robert Mugabe would be proud! 09:37  |  Dr. L. Brnd 18/07/08   4.   The outcome is pre-conceived... 11:08  |  Esther 18/07/08   5.   primary 12:12  |  Sol 18/07/08   6.   MERT LOYALIST WHO CARE MORE ABOUT THEIR IMAGES AND THEIR POCKET 17:32  |  glenna 18/07/08   7.   If the Kadima members have any last shred of self-respect 17:46  |  Arie 18/07/08

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