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Last update - 19:56 20/07/2008 Livni to Kadima ministers: Unity is key to early elections By Mazal Mualem, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Kadima, Ehud Olmert, Israel  Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni urged Kadima ministers on Sunday to appeal to the party's central committee to amend the party charter and pave the way for early primaries this September. The proposed amendments would make it possible to hasten the date for elections to elect a new party chairman. Advertisement Debate on the charter began 10 days ago and was scheduled to conclude Sunday at midnight, but it seems likely the vote will now be postponed until Wednesday, as the central committee still does not have the majority necessary to pass the proposed amendments. In her address to Kadima members, Livni also referred to reports that Olmert and his supporters have been trying to thwart the vote to advance primaries. "It's impossible to close one's eyes to what is happening. We made a decision as a party that needs to be brought now to committee," Livni said. "If we don't want to lose the little faith that remains in Kadima we make a unified ministerial call committee members to support this decision. Kadima needs to take responsibility for itself." "We need to display leadership and make one call, especially in light of the reports that people have been told not to vote," she said, adding that a lack of unity on the issue could break Kadima. Chairman of faction affairs, MK Tzachi Hanegbi, instructed party institutions on Saturday to push off the vote as long as necessary to obtain the majority, and estimated it would take until Wednesday for latecomers to approve the changes. Kadima MKs: We'll overthrow PM if no primary is set Knesset members from Kadima are threatening to cast a no-confidence vote against their own government if Prime Minister Ehud Olmert continues to "block the efforts" to set an early primary election. Kadima is expected to finish voting on whether to set a primary later this week. In fact, the party was supposed to vote on changing Kadima's charter tonight, but it appears that not enough Kadima members will attend the vote. Their absence, the rebel MKs say, is due to Olmert's efforts to block the vote. Some members of Kadima's council claim that they have been contacted over the weekend by Olmert's associates who urged them to object to changing the charter, or at least skip the event or abstain. The charter requires a minimum of 91 votes to pass changes to the charter. So far only 75 members have voted on the issue. Political commentators believe that Olmert, who is facing several criminal investigations into his financial activities, is interested in postponing the primary for as long as possible to prevent his replacement as the head of the ruling party. If he is replaced, he will probably have to step down from office. Two of the leading candidates in the race, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Public Security Minister Avi Dichter, have contacted Kadima council members and requested them to attend the vote. "Olmert is playing a double game," one Kadima council member told Haaretz. "On the one hand, he's presenting himself as someone who's in favor of having a primary election. But behind the scenes, he's sending his people to delay the vote. He's oblivious of the party, and of the fact that in so doing he's driving it into the ground." MK Shlomo Molla, who is rumored to support Livni, yesterday called on the prime minister to announce that he would not be running in the primary. "To have Olmert running would be a pure disgrace for Kadima," Molla said. "We must strive to set up an alternative government." Olmert's associates said he will decide on the issue by the end of the month. Bookmark to del.icio.us   'Icon of evil' Hitler icons take center stage at Jerusalem students' end-of-year art show. Caught on film Human rights group releases video of IDF soldier shooting Palestinian at short range.   1.   Another example why Kadima and labor need to go 09:10  |  DIsh It Out 20/07/08   2.   Likud? 11:58  |  A.M. 20/07/08   3.   i wonder if livni would...hmmmmm? 11:58  |  eric 20/07/08   4.   NOBODY WILL OVERTHROW 12:30  |  Robert 20/07/08   5.   AREN`;T ELECTIONS ABOUT THE MAJORITY RULE? 15:35  |  petra 20/07/08   6.   Israel can can now fit into the region now it has a dictator 17:10  |  zionist forever 20/07/08   7.   5 18:04  |  zionist forever 20/07/08   8.   Kadima 18:09  |  Ralph 20/07/08   9.   UNITY,COUNCIL,LIGHT,CONFIDENCE;THESE WORDS HAVE NO MEANING FOR 04:54  |  glenna 21/07/08

Read & React Ahmadinejad's deputy: Iran is a friend of Israel, is not interested in war Responses: 184 OPINION: Essential things Israelis and Iranians should know about each other Responses: 127 Uzi Beniziman: Iranian bomb threatens the world more than it does Tel Aviv Responses: 60 VIDEO: Troops shoot bound Palestinian at short range Responses: 138 Emmanuel Sivan: Israel's negotiator exploited Nasrallah's weaknesses Responses: 41 Rosner's Domain What will Obama look for in Jerusalem (and Ramallah)? Most Americans believe Iran will get nukes (WTR) Do U.S. Jews really support 'necessary compromises' for peace? Why does Israel keep agreeing to prisoner swaps? More Headlines 05:16 Talansky: I can't remember details of cash transfers to Olmert 05:17 Uncle Moish, the man in the middle 04:58 Police quiz businessman over unpaid loan he gave to Olmert 05:01 Ministers: Israel needs to be more flexible with Hamas over Shalit talks 05:05 Barack Obama to arrive in Israel Monday 05:08 The Brown Visit / Opening for The Beatles 05:09 Aliyah officials: Regional instability could double immigration from South Africa this year 04:30 Brown to warn Iran in first ever Knesset speech by British PM 04:35 Reservists rail at having to guard former Jewish terrorist 02:59 Israel to ratchet up effort to stop Syria-Lebanon arms smuggling 02:27 Highest school drop-out rate in non-Jewish sector 04:45 Carmiel funeral for 'non-Jewish' Tiberias woman 05:13 VIDEO: IDF soldier shoots bound Palestinian at short range 23:36 'I was attacked because I'm Arab' Previous Editions Select Day 20 jul 18 jul 17 jul 16 jul 15 jul 14 jul 13 jul 11 jul 10 jul 09 jul 08 jul 07 jul

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