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Last update - 00:18 20/09/2008
Livni: Olmert must fulfill his promise to quit after primary
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Service
Tags: Kadima, Israel, Tzipi Livni 

Fresh off her primary victory on Thursday, new Kadima chair Tzipi Livni told faction MKs on Friday that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ought to stick to his pledge to resign as soon as the party selected a new leader.

During the faction meeting in Petah Tikva on Friday, Livni also addressed Olmert's recent announcement that he would resign as soon as a new Kadima head is elected, and said "I told him I appreciated the manner in which he has decided to end his term."

"As of now, there is a country to run and we must act quickly. We don't have time to fuss around with politics," she added.
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Livni convened the party's first faction meeting since her election in the primary.

Livni announced her intention to try and forge a coalition, but declared "If I don't succeed in forming a government, I will go to general elections and win."

Livni's defeated rival Shaul Mofaz, who on Thursday announced he will be taking a "time out from politics," was conspicuously absent from Friday's meeting.

Livni said she regretted Mofaz's decision to take a break from public life, saying "I was sorry to hear of Mofaz's decision and of the fact that he isn't here today."

"I told him I wish to work with him. Mofaz should keep contributing to the government and to the Knesset," the foreign minister added.

The Kadima chair's entreaties to Mofaz contradict statements made by her subordinate to Army Radio on Friday. Livni aides told Army Radio they were satisfied by Mofaz's possible departure from the political scene.

"It's good for us," the aides told Army Radio. "We are rid of a man who could have built an entire camp against us within Kadima. Now we can concentrate on getting things done. There are no more ethnic issues in Kadima, no more committees."

Mofaz said he has no intention of resigning from Kadima, yet it remains unclear whether he intends to quit his post as transportation minister and member of Knesset. "They stole the elections from us," Mofaz aides told Army Radio. "The Kadima organizational functionaries and the media need to do some soul searching."

During the faction meeting, Livni also addressed Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's recent announcement that he would resign as soon as a new Kadima head is elected, and said "I told him I appreciated the manner in which he has decided to end his term."

"As of now, there is a country to run and we must act quickly. We don't have time to fuss around with politics," she added.

During the meeting, Vice Premier Haim Ramon said Livni should ask Olmert to remain prime minister until she completes the task of forming a coalition. "This is necessary so that we don't lose control over the process," Ramon said.

MK Tzachi Hanegbi, a Livni backer, disagreed with Ramon's suggestion. "We don't need to raise more question marks about the future," he said. "Only the resignation of the prime minister will advance the process and will make clear the options that are available for [coalition] partnership."

Asked about comments made my Labor Party officials claiming the party should head to general elections, Livni said "They ought to welcome the results of the elections and converse with us, rather than make election announcements."

Vilnai: Labor not afraid of elections
The Labor Party will not hesitate to go to early elections, Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai said on Friday.

"We are not afraid of elections," Vilnai told a gathering in Eilat on Friday. "The Labor Party is alive, breathing, and kicking, and there is a feeling of renewal and a reemergence on the ground."

Vilnai said it was the Labor Party that forced Kadima to hold a primary so as to replace its chairman, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who will resign due to the burgeoning criminal investigations against him. "Now [Kadima] has to decide what their goal is," Vilnai said.


Related articles:
  • Day after losing Kadima race, Mofaz announces 'time out from politics'
  • Kadima divided after Livni's victory, Mofaz exit
  • Mofaz supporters blame disqualified Rahat votes for loss to Livni
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
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    Official Syrian state paper says Livni can have peace if she desires it.
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      1.   To-the-point, buisness-like, cutting-the-chaff... 12:26  |  Esther 19/09/08
      2.   Talk is cheap 12:42  |  Mark Anthony 19/09/08
      3.   Suggested agenda 12:50  |  Chanalau, Tova 19/09/08
      4.   #1 - kadima is now seen as a joke .. 12:50  |  redmike 19/09/08
      5.   Don`t wait, call for new elections now! 13:02  |  Wise Saba 19/09/08
      6.   Lost respect for Mofaz 13:15  |  EZ 19/09/08
      7.   Never thought I would say this 13:16  |  A mother 19/09/08
      8.   The chain of deception 14:18  |  Paul 19/09/08
      9.   Red #4...undeniably a wizard at fictionalizing... 14:25  |  Esther 19/09/08
      10.   Patience, Wise#5... Tzipi is just revving up ... 14:34  |  Esther 19/09/08
      11.   7 million didn`t vote Livni your not PM 15:50  |  Shepherd 19/09/08
      12.   Livni responsible for UN Resolution 1701 16:18  |  Avi 19/09/08
      13.   Ehud Olmert should not resign until coalition formed 16:33  |  Smadar 19/09/08
      14.   Esther # 4 - Fictionalising or Not Blinding Oneself 16:55  |  Dagma 19/09/08
      15.   The Livni balloon 17:12  |  Ilan 19/09/08
      16.   Chanalau, Tova 17:29  |  Big Sur 19/09/08
      17.   kadima-less than 1% of citizens 17:56  |  Arie 19/09/08
      18.   Olmert: Tzipi must fulfill Administrative Office before 17:59  |  The Archives 19/09/08
      19.   Good luck to Mr.Olmret, Congratulation to livini & Salute to Mofa 18:22  |  Simon Mohammed 19/09/08
      20.   Some suggestions to LIVNI 18:25  |  RW 19/09/08
      21.   Livni vs Olmert 18:53  |  Brod 19/09/08
      22.   LIVNI YOU ARE AS WRONG ABOUT WINNING A GENERAL ELECTION AS YOU 18:59  |  glenna 19/09/08
      23.   #13 RW - Some very good suggestions 19:19  |  Dagma 19/09/08
      24.   Esther # 9 - A Joke! Redmike is right.... 19:58  |  Dagma 19/09/08
      25.   An agenda for the average Israeli 20:03  |  Kate 19/09/08
      26.   Enough of UNELECTED PRIME MINISTERS 20:29  |  Dolly 19/09/08
      27.   Ms. Livni, claim the rights of your people 20:52  |  A proud Jew 19/09/08
      28.   Olmert keep a promise? 20:56  |  Arie 19/09/08
      29.   Chanalau, Tova #3 21:51  |  Maurice 19/09/08
      30.   #13 - Arie - You are wrong. 21:59  |  Maurice 19/09/08
      31.   Kadima without Mr.Mofaz........ (A spoiler)..! 22:49  |  Stephen. 19/09/08
      32.   have him arrested and indicted then it will happen 22:51  |  v.hardman 19/09/08
      33.   # 5 wise saba - Right to the point 23:01  |  Onlooker 19/09/08
      34.   To Maurice-let me clarify 01:52  |  Arie 20/09/08
      35.   So.... so.... so...? 03:02  |  Webster 20/09/08
      36.   Chanalau, Tova 04:19  |  TonyL 20/09/08
      37.   Livni didn`t win 40% of Israelis vote. Throw her out 05:04  |  Kipperraes 20/09/08
      38.   That`s not what Olmert promised 09:28  |  Sima 20/09/08
      39.   Olmert should not step down 14:48  |  Rich 20/09/08
      40.   IT WOULD BE NICE IF OLD MERT DID NOT FULFILL HIS PROMISE TO QUIT; 09:03  |  glenna 21/09/08
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