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Last update - 07:06 19/09/2008
Day after losing Kadima race, Mofaz announces 'time out from politics'
By Haaretz Service
Tags: Tzipi Livni, Shaul Mofaz 

Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz Thursday announced he was taking "time out" from politics to consider his future after losing the Kadima Party leadership race to Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.

Mofaz did not publicly attack Livni but in private implied that her advisors, known as the "ranch forum," had brought him down. Kadima sources said he was hugely frustrated and angry over the campaign against him and felt Livni's team smeared him, despite his decades of military service, including stints as chief of staff and defense minister.

"They tried to portray me as a political wheeler dealer, a stupid, depraved man, despite all I contributed," Mofaz was quoted as telling confidants.
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At a news conference Thursday Mofaz said he did not intend to seek a position in the new government, should Livni succeed in forming a coalition.

"I will remain a Kadima member and will do everything I can to help [Livni]," Mofaz said, taking Livni's people and many of his own supporters by surprise.

"My family feels very hurt now and I want to be with them," Mofaz told MKs who supported him in the primary.

They said Mofaz clearly felt betrayed by the way the elections were held and by the "mudslinging" of Livni's people.

Mofaz did not say whether he intended to resign immediately, or only if Livni does form a government. He also did not say whether he intended to resign from the Knesset.

Commenting on Wednesday's primary election results, in which Mofaz came in second by a margin of some 400 votes, Mofaz said, "I am a democrat in my soul, and I know how to accept and respect every outcome. I accept the voters' verdict and I wish Ms. Livni luck."

Mofaz thanked his supporters as well as Kadima cabinet ministers and MKs. "I have no complaints against anyone - not even those who didn't vote for me," said Mofaz. "I have nothing against the ministers and MKs who supported other candidates, or against the system or the general atmosphere, the media, the pollsters - everyone followed their own agenda."

He said that the gap between the number of votes he and Livni received was razor-thin and that several lawyers advised him to appeal the results.

But, he said, "I decided that the good of the country comes before my personal gain, especially during this time in which the government is being tossed around in stormy waters."

Earlier Thursday Mofaz cloistered himself at home in Kochav Yair, refusing to take telephone calls. Ministers and MKs who called to speak with him, including Labor leader and Defense Minster Ehud Barak, were told he was unavailable.

Later Thursday Mofaz cancelled a scheduled meeting with Livni at which she was to request his help in assembling a coalition and ask him to rethink his decision to retire from politics.

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      1.   Won`t play 19:37  |  Baz Mann 18/09/08
      2.   A positive first step 19:38  |  Arie 18/09/08
      3.   grudging 19:45  |  soggy liberal 18/09/08
      4.   Headed home to sulk 19:57  |  Mark Lincoln 18/09/08
      5.   Mofaz go back to Likud & you have a future in politics 20:30  |  zionist forever 18/09/08
      6.   "Good luck to Mofaz!" 20:40  |  sandra chitayat 18/09/08
      7.   Mofaz go back to Likud and demand New General Elections 21:09  |  Shepherd 18/09/08
      8.   Arab terrorists licking thier chops over Livni 21:39  |  Jewboy 18/09/08
      9.   old school guy 21:59  |  anyuci 18/09/08
      10.   I commend Mofaz for his behavior 22:09  |  Salomon 18/09/08
      11.   "Good luck to Mofaz!" sandra chitayat 22:19  |  Lou 18/09/08
      12.   mofaz 22:51  |  haim 18/09/08
      13.   What he probably means is that he`s joinng Likud as defense minis 00:30  |  Nach 19/09/08
      14.   Opportunist 01:43  |  Baz Mann 19/09/08
      15.   You got lucky 03:03  |  Ali Khamenei 19/09/08
      16.   Mofaz! Look at Hillary! Stop sulking and work for peace! 07:59  |  S 19/09/08
      17.   Selfish & childish behaviour Mofaz! 08:10  |  Harry 19/09/08
      18.   They were right 08:45  |  Dave 19/09/08
      19.   Re S #16 09:32  |  Esther 19/09/08
      20.   Proof of a lucky escape 09:46  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 19/09/08
      21.   big baby 09:56  |  yoni 19/09/08
      22.   Hopefully Livni has strong arms 10:12  |  Gregor 19/09/08
      23.   Mofaz is only the first 11:02  |  Moshe 19/09/08
      24.   #19 Esther 11:17  |  S 19/09/08
      25.   can`t help thinking... 12:08  |  miriam 19/09/08
      26.   S #24 12:53  |  Esther 19/09/08
      27.   This Is How I Used To Behave When Losing 13:17  |  nate 19/09/08
      28.   Esther #26 thanks for the first laugh of the day! 14:12  |  S 19/09/08
      29.   Mofaz - you know what - take more time off! 15:27  |  Mike 20/09/08
      30.   lousy politics in Israel 15:26  |  igal azuelos 21/09/08
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