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Last update - 04:28 18/05/2008 Livni working on 'quiet campaign' to be Kadima heir By Mazal Mualem Tags: Israel, Tzipi Livni, Kadima  Since the latest investigation of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was announced, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni has greatly accelerated her political activity within Kadima. Party sources say that last week her camp stepped up their recruiting efforts, taking hundreds of party membership applications from party headquarters. Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz also went into high gear last week; his party workers grabbed over 1,000 sign-up forms. In the event that Olmert is forced to resign, his replacement will be selected, in accordance with party regulations, in a primary in which all members of Kadima are eligible to vote. This explains the sudden interest taken by Livni, Mofaz and Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit, as well, in increasing their support. Livni called key party people on the eve of Independence Day. "Tzipi doesn't usually call people, at least not me, with holiday greetings, and it really surprised me," one Kadima MK related. "She didn't talk about politics or the Olmert investigation, but it was still surprising. She also said she'd be happy to meet with me." Advertisement Kadima officials say Livni's actions during the past two weeks point to a "quiet campaign" in preparation for a challenge. She is distancing herself from Olmert and his police investigations in her response to the affair: At first she completely ignored Olmert and declared her complete trust in the law enforcement authorities and her belief in the separation of powers. Later, when nearly all Kadima cabinet ministers rallied to Olmert's side, Livni chose to remain silent, and on Thursday, in her speech to the Presidential Conference, she expressed veiled criticism of Olmert when she said, "Every person needs a dream, some backbone and a moral compass to guide him. Every state needs a dream, a purpose and a moral compass that unites the nation and guides its leaders." People close to Livni say her response was deliberate but denied any connection between her speech on Thursday and the investigation of Olmert. Senior Kadima figures who are close to Olmert are furious over Livni's responses to the investigation and say it's obvious that her conduct is based on recent opinion polls that are crowning her as the next prime minister. "One must ask why she didn't talk about leadership during the investigations against Arik [Ariel] Sharon when he was prime minister and she was minister of justice," one Kadima figure said. "What has changed since then? It's obvious that she smells the possibility of succeeding [Olmert]." Livni's people say in response that she has not changed her conduct and that, as in the past, "she is doing what she believes in. She always talked about [supporting] the separation of powers." The Kadima activists who are recruiting new members for Livni say that at the critical moment, she is the only one who will be able to keep Kadima in the Prime Minister's Office, especially now when it is clear that the next election campaign will revolve around the issue of governmental corruption. In private conversation, Mofaz and Sheetrit - both are preparing to contest the party leadership - speak about the political inexperience of Livni, who is far ahead of them in all the public opinion pills. They both have better party machines, but Livni believes her public position and the poll numbers will make it possible for her to beat them handily. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Animated massacre Animated Israeli film at Cannes explores Sabra and Shatila massacre. Kowtowing to funders When papers are sponsored, can their reporting be truly independent?   1.   LIVNI VS DICHTER, WHAT A PROSPECT 06:23  |  indrajaya 18/05/08   2.   The power struggle has begun 08:50  |  David 18/05/08   3.   Hm- very quiet. that why this article is written? 10:32  |  Jew-girl 18/05/08   4.   fight of the clowns 10:32  |  Joanna 18/05/08   5.   When Livni blew it 10:49  |  Clickfool 18/05/08   6.   Livni - next prime minister 11:50  |  Reid 18/05/08   7.   Please G-d: Let Livni Lead Kadima... Into New Elections 13:49  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 18/05/08

Read & React Is Israel breaking its own taboo on talks with Hamas? Responses: 31 Amos Harel: Israel often blindly relies on intelligence personnel claiming to 'know what Arabs are thinking' Responses: 3 Zvi Bar'el: Gaza truce talks make Shalit and Sderot hostages of each other Responses: 5 Lebanon government challenges Hezbollah on weapons arsenal Responses: 31 Rosner's Domain Bush should be measured by the yardstick he prescribed to Obama The greatest achievement and failure of the Jewish people Is Obama a Carter or a Chomsky? (WTR) Poll: Was Bush attacking Obama? Does McCain wants to talk to Hamas? (WTR) More Headlines 13:47 Olmert: Gaza situation is approaching critical point 12:30 Bush says he's hopeful for democratic reform in Middle East 12:31 Olmert aides slam 'strange' police request for new interview 13:46 IDF removes W. Bank roadblock, first in series of gestures 09:45 Knesset panel demands account of talks with Palestinians, Syria 13:08 Sergey Brin: My family left Russia because of anti-Semitism 09:48 Is Israel breaking its own taboo on talks with Hamas? 11:32 Conference asks: Iraqi Israeli, Arab Jew or Mizrahi Jew? 10:09 Lebanon gov't challenges Hezbollah on weapons arsenal 12:08 Lag b'Omer unity shattered by battle for grave of Kabbalah rabbi bar Yohai 04:28 Livni working on 'quiet campaign' to be Kadima heir Previous Editions Select Day 16 may 15 may 14 may 13 may 12 may 11 may 09 may 08 may 07 may 06 may 05 may 04 may

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