Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., August 20, 2008 Av 19, 5768 | | Israel Time: 20:48 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Rosner's Domain
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 10:43 20/08/2008
Olmert tells aides: Sheetrit is my top choice for Kadima leader
By Mazal Mualem, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Meir Sheetrit, Ehud Olmert 

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said in private conversations that Interior Minister Meir Sheetreit is his preferred choice to lead Kadima and the government.

Sources close to the prime minister said that Olmert sees in Sheetrit political experience and professionalism stemming from the latter's days as mayor and as a minister in a number of different capacities.

The sources said Olmert also appreciates Sheetrit's opinions and political leaning.
Advertisement
The prime minister will not intervene in the party's primary elections, the sources said, but his preference is clear.

Sheetrit, who announced his candidacy on Tuesday, currently holds the bottom spot in election polls.

"I know Olmert appreciates me very much, we've known each other for years," Sheetrit said. "He also knows that if I am chosen to lead Kadima I won't demand he resign immediately. I opposed the lynch he was subjected to... I thought he should have been given a chance to prove his innocence."

The veteran politician will square off against frontrunner Tzipi Livni, Shaul Mofaz, and Avi Dichter for the Kadima leadership.

"We are not permitted to gamble away the future of the state and the future of the party," the interior minister said Tuesday, during a press conference in Holon. "People without enough experience are immediately jumping into senior positions without taking the long, hard route of accumulating knowledge and experience over the years."

"The prime minster does not have to be a general," Sheetrit added. When asked about the publicized dust-up between Livni and Labor Party chairman Ehud Barak, who have been going back and forth on the question of who is most qualified to answer the phone at 3 A.M. in an emergency situation.

"[If I'm prime minister], the phone won't ring at 3 A.M., because there's no reason for it," Sheetrit said. "There are no urgent matters, only neglected matters. If there will be some sensitive matter, I'll be awake anyway." The interior minister added that a prime minister is preoccupied with domestic issues, foreign crises, and security matters, "when security is the most important, but it's certainly not the whole picture."

Related articles:
  • Interior Minister Sheetrit announces candidacy for Kadima leadership
  • Olmert to step down in September, vows to push for peace first
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Poor sports
    Here are the top 10 excuses for Israel's poor Olympics showing.
    Kafka the Zionist
    Remnants of Kafka's estate found in T.A. raise questions of his belief in Zionism.
      1.   interesting 12:58  |  eric 20/08/08
      2.   interesting 12:58  |  eric 20/08/08
      3.   poor guy condemned before he stands 13:19  |  v.hardman 20/08/08
      4.   Interesting indeed.... 13:50  |  Esther 20/08/08
      5.   Sheetrit, Olmert`s preferred choice? Just more of the same. 15:54  |  enough of kadima 20/08/08
      6.   Did he really say Sheetrit, or was he just trying 16:35  |  S Freedman 20/08/08
      7.   What Olmert did NOT say ...... 17:38  |  Dagma 20/08/08
      8.   To S. Freedman # 6 - Olmert really did say 17:43  |  Dolly 20/08/08
      9.   Indict Olmert so we don`t have to hear what he thinks anymore 17:51  |  Kipperraes 20/08/08
      10.   Sheetrit and Bene Menashe immigration don`t mix 17:59  |  just more sheet 20/08/08
      11.   What Israel really needs .... 18:33  |  justiceforall 20/08/08
      12.   Death blow for Sheetrit`s political career 18:46  |  Arie 20/08/08
      13.   Dagma @ 7 Change of heart 20:01  |  charlie 20/08/08
      14.   Kadima is a fiasco 20:15  |  Mr.Pranks 20/08/08
      15.   Kadima is hanging by a thread...... 20:41  |  Dagma 20/08/08
     Read & React
    Olmert: No restraint if Lebanon becomes Hezbollah state
    Responses: 163
    Ex-Mossad chief: Ahmadinejad is Israel's greatest gift
    Responses: 51
    Gaza women training as suicide bombers in case truce ends
    Responses: 80
    Religious modesty guard 'enjoys support of rabbis and police'
    Responses: 51
    Rosner's Domain
    One State solution? Let the debate begin
    What killed the campaign for Darfur?
    Better chances for a Lieberman VP?
    Poll: Who will be better as leader of the Kadima Party?


    More Headlines
    18:29 PMO: Hezbollah plans to kidnap Israelis abroad
    18:43 Olmert to Zubari: Your Olympic win brings tears of joy to Israel
    20:44 Ahmadinejad: Israel is a germ of corruption that will be removed
    12:06 Assad: Israeli aid to Georgia encourages Syria-Russia ties
    12:38 Anticipating truce breakdown, Gaza women training as suicide bombers
    19:31 Jordan acknowledges holding secret meetings with Hamas
    12:39 Religious modesty guard 'enjoys support of rabbis and police'
    20:08 More than 140 people killed in Madrid plane crash
    14:25 Hamas threatens to turn Shalit into 'second Ron Arad'
    13:57 Jordan frees four prisoners handed over by Israel last year
    19:43 Safed toddler, teen, hospitalized after taking dangerous medications
    16:49 Seven-year-old falls off bicycle, dies of head injuries
    14:19 Iraq to export oil to Lebanon, under series of upcoming trade deals
    15:21 EU boosts aid to Palestinian Authority by an extra 40 million euros
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Fattal Hotel Chain
    Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
    Jewish Singles Personal Ads
    Find the love of your life on JDate.com
    MBA in Israel in English
    APPLY NOW! Limited spaces available
    Israel's Premier Real Estate Website
    www. israel-property.com
    Your vacation starts here
    Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates
    Hebrew Summer courses
    From $39.95
    ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel
    Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
    Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel
    birthright Israel | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved