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Livni under fire for refusing to vow to remain in Kadima By Mazal Mualem Senior Kadima members have harsh words for Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni for refusing to make a public promise to stay in Kadima even if she loses the party's leadership race. "It is very strange that Livni, who prides herself on being among the party's founders, is unwilling to state explicitly that this is her home. It raises questions and looks really bad from a public standpoint," one prominent party member said. Advertisement The issue arose in the past few days, prompted by a "candidate declaration" being drafted by Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik and MK Tzachi Hanegbi, the latter of whom who heads Kadima's committee for party affairs. The declaration includes a commitment to remain in the party, as well as a promise to reserve the second spot on the list for the candidate who takes second place in the primary. Associates of Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz said he is expected to support the document, and in any event intends to stay in Kadima, as he has announced previously. By contrast, Livni's confidants took the line that "she intends to win, and isn't dealing with other things." Kadima's Knesset faction convenes today for the first time since Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's announced he would not seek reelection, and will discuss the "candidate declaration." At a campaign rally last night in Kiryat Ono a few hours after Mofaz returned from a visit to the United States, he announced that after winning the primary he would form a national unity government, even before the municipal elections scheduled for November 11. "We don't need [general] elections at a time like this when such complex matters are on the agenda. We must form a national unity government and contend with these challenges," Mofaz said. A rally for Kadima's candidate for mayor of Kiryat Ono, Ami Kahlon, was attended by ministers and Knesset members, including Livni, who entered the hall only after Mofaz had exited by another door. Associates of both candidates said it was a mere coincidence, not an effort to prevent their meeting. Mofaz and Livni both showered praise on the young Kahlon, who is among the party's former Likudniks. Others who praised him at the rally were ministers Gideon Ezra, Roni Bar-On, and Ruhama Avraham-Balila, as well as MKs Hanegbi, Yohanan Plesner and Abraham Hirchson. Livni and Mofaz have been busy recruiting support from faction members, and have more meetings lined up with all of its ministers and MKs, with their eyes on the quadruple prize: Vice Premier Haim Ramon, Bar-On, Itzik and Hanegbi. These four have the power to influence the party rank-and-file, and the word is that all are still on the fence. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Shin Bet exploitation Is spying for Israel a fair swap for receiving medical treatment? A French feud French satirist denies making anti-Semitic remarks towards President Sarkozy's son.

Read & React Netanyahu: Kadima is selling Jerusalem to Israel's enemies Responses: 66 Court slams state for ignoring order to change West Bank fence route Responses: 49 Israel urges int'l pressure to stop Hezbollah arms smuggling Responses: 64 Rights group: Shin Bet coerces ill Palestinians to become informants Responses: 71 More Headlines 01:35 Defense Minister: Gaza operations are on way 19:29 High Court: Olmert can be suspended if he obstructs graft probe 23:07 MK Barakeh: We'll break any hand raised against Israel's Arabs 00:40 Kadima relieves Livni of vow to remain in party 02:11 Movement organizing to reestablish evacuated Gaza settlements 23:00 Israeli food company: We won't sell produce grown by Arabs 01:32 A maverick's life, post one / Forget hypocrisy and humbug 00:40 Or Akiva man suspected of conspiring to cause his mistress to miscarry 15:59 Pollard sues Israel for failing to grant him financial assistance 23:05 Caught on film: How Obama's note was stolen from Western Wall 01:52 Kidnapped man turns out to be victim of jealous husband, not robbers 22:29 Rights group: Shin Bet coercing ill Palestinians to become informants 22:58 Israel transfers 88 Fatah men who fled Gaza into West Bank 22:31 Satirical jab at Sarkozy's son sparks cries of anti-Semitism 12:09 Officials investigating threats of Al-Qaida attacks in Europe Previous Editions Select Day 04 aug 03 aug 01 aug 31 jul 30 jul 29 jul 28 jul 27 jul 25 jul 24 jul 23 jul 22 jul

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