Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., July 01, 2009 Tamuz 9, 5769 | | Israel Time: 14:41 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Focus U.S.A. Travel Week's End Anglo File
Share |
Last update - 11:36 30/06/2009
Netanyahu courts Kadima, with or without Livni
By Mazal Mualem
Tags: Israel News, Shaul Mofaz 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a regularly scheduled update with opposition head MK Tzipi Livni (Kadima) on Monday. Procedure dictates the meeting take place once a month. The 45-minute meet, also attended by the prime minister's military secretary Maj. Gen. Meir Klifi, did not include political discussion, although Netanyahu has not given up on his plan to have Kadima join the government "as one piece or in parts."

Netanyahu does not have a diplomatic plan to show Livni, which would predicate an invitation to join his government. He also has no positions to offer her as long as Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and his ministers are part of the government.

Livni continues to maintain her strategic decision of remaining in the opposition, from which she believes she will be able to capture the premiership. Recent internal Kadima polls reportedly support her decision.
Advertisement
However, Livni's number two, MK Shaul Mofaz, is working openly to create conditions to join the cabinet. Netanyahu believes that when the time is ripe, Mofaz will be able to lead a rebellion in Kadima and demand that the party join the coalition.

Mofaz, seemingly recovered from the shock of finding himself in the opposition, has gone back to attacking Livni mercilessly, apparently hoping to bring her down from within the party.

Mofaz is also touting a diplomatic plan calling for a "Palestinian state within temporary borders, around which he claims he can unite the party."

Mofaz denies any intention of bolting Kadima, but senior Likud ministers who are in close contact with him say that if Netanyahu calls again for Kadima to join the government, Mofaz will work as hard as he can to make it happen, even if it means splitting the party.

The move would have the added benefit of acting as revenge for what he sees as Livni's stealing the party leadership from him.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu is preparing for the day Lieberman is indicted. Theoretically only Lieberman would have to resign; his ministers could remain in the cabinet. However, the prime minister knows that this is an unhealthy situation in terms of his government's stability and has therefore pushed for the so-called Mofaz bill by which seven MKs can form their own party. He believes Kadima support is the only way to bolster his coalition.

At the moment Mofaz has no camp behind him. Still, like Netanyahu, he believes a concrete offer and a diplomatic plan will draw plenty of support.

Mofaz was the subject of well-aimed barbs yesterday by outgoing MK Haim Ramon (Kadima). "Those who don't know how to be in the opposition don't come into power," Ramon warned, using Netanyahu as an example.

Ramon also told a press briefing he was a "great believer" in Kadima, which he said was solid and "in two or three years would be the largest party and return to power. Tzipi Livni will be prime minister."
PROMOTION: Mamilla Hotel
Bookmark to del.icio.us  
 
Gaza probe dropped
Spanish court drops 'war crimes' investigation into 2002 IDF strike in Gaza
PM backs Lieberman
Netanyahu reaffirms support for Lieberman after Sarkozy remarks
  1.   Interesting 14:20  |  Chris Linthwaite 30/06/09
  2.   Back to the hearsay and wishful thinking .. 14:51  |  jane 30/06/09
  3.   Livni wouldn`t be successful in the government 17:11  |  Noami 30/06/09
  4.   #.1.Chris Linthwaite. 20:38  |  Stephen. 30/06/09
Special Offers
Advertisement
hotel Jerusalem
David Citadel Hotel, come stay at the finest of Jerusalem hotels.
ISRAEL ARMY SURPLUS STORE
IDF insignia,Uniforms, Paladium Boots Watches, Israel Army T-shirts & Collectibles
Dead Sea Skin Care
Quality cosmetics from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 12% off!
Eldan Rent a Car
Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
Junkyard
Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
More Headlines
14:37 Court: IDF must toughen charges for shooting of bound Palestinian
14:09 Iran delegates storm out of interfaith meet during Peres speech
04:22 Israel, U.S. inch toward deal on settlements
14:25 Sarkozy is right - Lieberman must go
12:11 Court delays trial on lynching of Jewish terrorist
10:36 UN: Israel does not deny running spy ring in Lebanon
06:20 Arab world bloggers more wary of their leaders than of Israel
20:58 WATCH: Daily news round-up from Israel
14:05 EU urges Iran to avoid confrontation with West
12:34 Dead fetus found in bag outside Herzliya grocery store
02:56 PA: Israel planning to expropriate another 2% of West Bank land
10:18 WATCH: Animated film tells of Gaza woman's cancer battle
07:17 Jews and Muslims unite against Jerusalem Museum of Tolerance
Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Site rules |
| Israel 2009 election results | Makom: Engaging on 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