Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., December 21, 2008 Kislev 24, 5769 | | Israel Time: 01:49 (EST+7)   Back to Homepage web haaretz.com Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate GA 2008 Travel Week's End Anglo File

End of the primary season By Yossi Verter Tags: Israel News The Kadima primary that ended early yesterday morning was pushed to the tail end of all of yesterday's news broadcasts ¬ after Gaza, after Tuesday's fatal bus crash, after the gruesome decapitation in Petah Tikva earlier this week, and after a few other things. With the poll now behind us, we can make a few conclusions ¬ that only the Likud succeeded in raising interest, in rejuvenating itself and lighting a flame, even if since the primary its list has changed several times a day and its legal department been occupied around the clock. Still, Benjamin Netanyahu returned Benny Begin, Dan Meridor and Moshe Ya'alon to the fold and pushed Moshe Feiglin to the back. Primary voters launched a generational revolution, sending three candidates around the age of 40 to the top of the list - Gideon Sa'ar, Gilad Erdan and Moshe Kahlon. Advertisement For its part, Labor put together a respectable list, pushing young candidates to the top as well - Isaac Herzog and Shelly Yachimovich come to mind. But its roster adds little zest to the bland campaign run thus far by party chair Ehud Barak. The ministers of Kadima (apart from Haim Ramon, who was too lazy to wage a campaign) acquitted themselves well, and a number of women were added, too. Still, it is an uninspired, stale and even somewhat aging slate, a kind of Likud B-side - indeed, many of its members are former Likudniks who jumped ship. The inspiring new faces can be counted off easily - Nahman Shai and Ze'ev Bielski are two - and Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik is one of the few reminders of Labor's contribution to the "big bang" that was Kadima's 2005 birth. Ramon is another such example, but it is doubtful his political career has a long future. It is no wonder the Kadima primary did not raise great interest, despite it being a ruling party which will likely remain as such even after the general election. Most of the conflicts were internal, like the rivalry between Tzipi Livni and Shaul Mofaz. Who after today will remember party rankings except for those who actually ran? No one. The roster is of almost non-existent significance to the real race: that between Netanyahu, Livni and Barak. That race, in effect, begins only today Bookmark to del.icio.us   The perfect storm The Madoff scam is a perfect storm for an outpouring of anti-Semitic web posts. Anne Frank A wax figure of Anne Frank is on display in Berlin's Madame Tussauds.

Read & React Rice: Renewed Gaza violence will not help Palestinian cause Responses: 270 U.S. report: Hezbollah fought Israel better than any Arab army Responses: 186 Daniel Levy: Gaza likely to turn into Somalia if Israel continues siege Responses: 60 Shady land deal unfolds from West Bank to California strip mall Responses: 49 Immigrant IAF pilot fights to be recognized as a Jew Responses: 36 More Headlines 23:58 'Israel has given up its sovereignty over territory near Gaza' 23:50 Gaza militants fire 15 Qassams, 23 mortar shells into Israel Sat. 20:40 Fayyad: World must act to halt West Bank settlement growth 19:33 ADL: Anti-Semitic posts flood Web in wake of Bernard Madoff affair 22:37 Israel, Arab states at odds over first UN gay rights declaration 20:41 Berlin's Madame Tussauds displays Anne Frank wax figure 17:18 After Mumbai attacks, India bans parties at Israeli backpacker hotspot Goa 20:29 Want to help improve the Haaretz.com homepage? 23:17 Netanyahu's election slogan: 'Likud - because the state needs to be run' 20:43 Palestinian prisoners clash with Israeli guards at West Bank jail 09:15 Executive arrested in N.Y. over Iranian nuclear funding scheme 15:08 Activists' boat arrives in Gaza, in fresh attempt to break Israeli blockade 01:00 Confrontation between Katsav, A. doesn't change police move to indict 15:44 ANALYSIS / Has the Gaza cease-fire really breathed its last? 19:27 ANALYSIS / Mogul Gaydamak is fated to wander the world as a vagabond Previous Editions Select Day 19 dec 18 dec 17 dec 16 dec 15 dec 14 dec 12 dec 11 dec 10 dec 09 dec 08 dec 07 dec

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