Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., June 10, 2008 Sivan 7, 5768 | | Israel Time: 15:05 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Rosner's Domain
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Advertising
Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 08:32 08/06/2008
ANALYSIS / Mofaz's Iran comments too high a price for party politics
By Yossi Verter, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Israel, Iran, Shaul Mofaz 

Since Kadima's leadership contest has not officially begun, and no date for the primary has even been set, it is hard not to be impressed with the activity of candidate Shaul Mofaz: In a single week, he moved to the Golan Heights, set up a new cabinet and bombed Iran - all with his mouth. The latter move single-handedly caused the sharpest one-day increase in history in the price of a barrel of crude: $11.

On one hand, that is impressive productivity; on the other, it is scary. What is he planning for us during the real campaign, or the second round, if there is one? A world war? A clash of Titans?

The world's most important newspapers paid serious attention to the statements Mofaz made in an interview with Yedioth Ahronoth on Friday and linked them to the rise in the price of petroleum. The Financial Times noted that Mofaz was born in Iran - which evidently makes him some sort of authority.
Advertisement
But the Prime Minister's Office and the Defense Ministry were less impressed. Senior officials in both saw the statements as "a reflection of outrageous irresponsibility." When Mofaz, who is responsible for the strategic dialogue between Israel and the United States, announces that Israel will attack Iran with support from Washington, he is supposedly hinting that during last week's meeting between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and President George Bush, they agreed on some sort of operational plan.

If Mofaz knows what he is talking about, he has revealed the two countries' greatest and most highly classified secret and has potentially seriously damaged a military operation. That is a bit too high a price for a party primary.

When Mofaz defected to Kadima from Likud in winter 2005, he was at the height of his race for the Likud leadership. Today, while vying for Kadima's leadership, he is conducting a Likud-style campaign. As Likud-like as possible- drenched in militarist and rightist declarations.

If we thought before that Mofaz wanted to turn Kadima into Likud B, it seems that we were naive. He wants to turn it into Likud A, and perhaps even merge the two parties and, once Benjamin Netanyahu quits the scene, run for the Likud leadership. Mofaz does not say things haphazardly. He apparently reached the conclusion that most of Kadima's members (as opposed to most of its voters) are increasingly leaning to the right, and he is making a bid for their support.

This may also be Tzipi Livni's calculation. Several days ago, the foreign minister told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that the "military option is on the table" in relation to Iran. This was a less dramatic and bombastic declaration than the one made by Mofaz, but it also reflected a verbal escalation.

This is the twilight of Olmert's government, and its slow death, along with the start of the primary campaign, bode only ill. In one breath, there is talk of an attack on Iran, a peace accord with the Palestinians, the resumption of talks with Syria and an operation in the Gaza Strip. Nothing seems clear or obvious.

Mofaz is the person who may replace Ehud Barak at the Defense Ministry if Labor leaves the coalition. But on Saturday, some in Labor sounded reluctant to leave. "If everyone is losing their mind," a senior Labor figure said, "it might be best for the only mature party" - Labor, of course - "not to rush to leave this government."

Related articles:
  • IAEA slams Mofaz remark that attack on Iran seems 'unavoidable'
  • Iran demands Security Council action on Israeli 'threat'
  • Betwixt and between
  • Top Kadima players stymie move to hold primaries
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Sign of life
    Family of abducted IDF solider Gilad Shalit receives new sign of life.
    Happy Jews
    San Francisco museum details positive impact of Jews on city.
      1.   it will happen 02:41  |  pepsi 08/06/08
      2.   Mofaz Totally Irresponsible 02:53  |  guy 08/06/08
      3.   Pepsi in Toronto 03:33  |  Coke in Montreal 08/06/08
      4.   # 2, Guy 03:35  |  Gal 08/06/08
      5.   Iran`s making money thanks to Mofaz`s empty threats 03:43  |  Aounist 08/06/08
      6.   Mofaz...stick to the transportation ministry 04:14  |  ali 08/06/08
      7.   "If everyone is losing their mind" 06:20  |  Dror 08/06/08
      8.   Kadima is the party of leftist defeatism.. no one is fooled 07:23  |  Yossi 08/06/08
      9.   stupidTalk 08:21  |  Yaacob 08/06/08
      10.   but Livni wants to preserve Kadima 09:06  |  Rowan 08/06/08
      11.   Mofaz the idiot 09:10  |  Joshua 08/06/08
      12.   The Israeli government is obviously in disarray... - 2nd try 09:24  |  BBSNews 08/06/08
      13.   Kadima`s Wild Say-Anything Politics Bites Them on The Rear, Again 09:27  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 08/06/08
      14.   #8 Yossi in Texas 10:28  |  Rowan 08/06/08
      15.   useless 11:00  |  michel 08/06/08
      16.   Mofaz proving he doesn`t deserve the position 11:16  |  David Teich 08/06/08
      17.   Haha! 11:59  |  Sadiq M 08/06/08
      18.   Many Israeli politicians have big mouths, but Mofaz breaks rule 1 12:17  |  Natallie Durson 08/06/08
      19.   Israel the only country 12:25  |  Axel 08/06/08
      20.   Israeli nukes authorize Arab nukes 13:44  |  klein 08/06/08
      21.   # 18. Natallie...Again I have to agree 80 %. 14:08  |  Stephen. 08/06/08
      22.   Putting his political ambition before good of the country 14:41  |  Shalom Freedman 08/06/08
      23.   a mistake 14:52  |  Michael 08/06/08
      24.   Some Mofaz attributes 14:54  |  Tosefta 08/06/08
      25.   What`s wrong with those Israeli-Iranian leaders? 15:03  |  Tosefta 08/06/08
      26.   WELL DONE, MOFAZ ETC. ARE THE IRANIAN AGENTS 15:11  |  indrajaya 08/06/08
      27.   Free countries must grab the initiative 15:49  |  arun 08/06/08
      28.   Tosefta @24 brain in overload due to reading to many books! 16:08  |  Mofaz 08/06/08
      29.   Aounist @5 Have you started getting on public transportation yet? 16:23  |  Mofaz 08/06/08
      30.   This was positive move , and price of crude is not Mofaz`s 16:57  |  Sal 08/06/08
      31.   Mofaz gave the only answer that can be given to Iran` s threats 18:43  |  Realist 08/06/08
      32.   price and responsibility 19:17  |  khairi janbek 08/06/08
      33.   cheap petrol for all: soon to be seized from iran 21:11  |  frenz 08/06/08
      34.   Mofaz`s brain farts did everyone a big favor. 23:51  |  ManintheMiddle 08/06/08
      35.   #28 mofaz brain underload not reading enough books 00:28  |  Labhras 09/06/08
      36.   According to the Financial Times Iranians are the AUTHORITY...so 22:12  |  Iranian-American 09/06/08
      37.   Ya` gotta laugh at this statement 14:46  |  Johnboy 10/06/08
     Read & React
    Shalit's father: Gilad begs for his life in new letter
    Responses: 84
    Israeli envoy to London: U.K. has become hotbed of anti-Israeli views
    Responses: 78
    Arab towns to hand out 'Nakba' alternative history booklet outside schools
    Responses: 33
    Moshe Arens: Israeli politicians using Iran threat to ignore Gaza rockets, cede Golan
    Responses: 19
    Rosner's Domain
    On a par with the policies of President Bush
    Should you mess with the Zohan? (WTR)
    Poll: Philip Roth, Victor Frankl or Leon Uris?
    Obama and Jerusalem: did you really believe him?
    What did Obama say to Joe Lieberman? (WTR)


    More Headlines
    14:27 Hamas: IAF strike kills 3 Gaza mortar gunners
    15:01 Olmert, Livni and Barak debate: Truce or broad IDF op in Gaza
    13:04 Abducted soldier Shalit's father: Gilad begs for his life in new letter
    15:02 Mubarak stays away from Med union summit to shun Assad
    09:41 Congress gets behind Israel's aid request
    09:50 Israeli envoy to London: U.K. has become hotbed of radical anti-Israeli views
    14:41 Israeli satellite commercial has new star - Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
    14:20 Poll: 90% of public believes Israeli leadership rife with corruption
    11:48 Poland loses to Germany in Euro, as 1939 Nazi conquest again makes headlines
    14:57 Brothers in 'honor killing' released to house arrest due to legal delays
    12:51 Palestinians: Israel transfers delayed tax money, but millions missing
    11:52 Arab towns to distribute 'Nakba' alternative history booklet outside schools
    11:31 Jewish pilot tapped for U.S. Air Force chief position
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Jerusalem of Gold
    Luxury apartments in Jerusalem's finest location
    Your vacation starts here
    Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates
    Istudy
    Learn Hebrew in 3 months
    The Terraces
    Your Ultimate Coastal Address On Nitza Boulevard, North Netanya
    Pardes Institute Summer Sessions
    http://www.pardes.org.il/
    Free the Palestinians from:
    Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy
    Fattal Hotel Chain
    Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
    ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel
    Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
    Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel
    birthright Israel
    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