MK Aflalo to Livni: You betrayed me so I'm quitting Kadima
Lawmaker's announcement comes after Netanyahu aides blast Livni over claim PM trying to split Kadima.
By Haaretz Service Tags: Benjamin Netanyahu Israel news Tzipi LivniMK Eli Aflalo told opposition leader Tzipi Livni on Tuesday that he intended to abandon her Kadima party in order to found his own Knesset faction, saying he had lost faith in her as a leader.
Channel 1 quoted the lawmaker as telling Linvi that, "You took Kadima too far left and betrayed me; I don't believe you any more."
Aflalo is considering deserting to the ruling Likud party, which he earlier left to join Kadima, or forming his own Knesset faction.
The lawmaker's announcement came after associates of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday slammed Livni for saying that the premier and his Likud party were trying to split up Kadima.
"Livni is hypocritically averting her gaze, as she has meddled and invested great efforts in an attempt to split up the Labor Party," the associates said.
Netanyahu's associates added that "Livni is hypocritically accusing the Prime Minister of what she herself is doing."
A senior official said, "Livni's problem is not Netanyahu - but her lack of leadership."
"Those who cannot lead their own party should not blame the Prime Minister for their own inadequacies," he added.
Earlier, Netanyahu on Wednesday urged the opposition to support the government at a time when Israel faces multiple threats, including rocket attacks, Iran's nuclear program and the Goldstone report, which he said de-legitimizes Israel's right to self-defense.
In a Knesset plenum meeting called "Netanyahu's failed foreign policies," summoned by opposition leader Tzipi Livni, the premier accused his opponents of spending too much time criticizing his government's policies.
"When fighting false accusations against Israel you fight together, side by side," Netanyahu said.
"I am not asking you for more than I asked of the opposition under my leadership not long ago," Netanyahu added, saying that "when dealing with topics of importance to Israel's defense and policies, you only have one real choice: not to criticize for the sake of criticism, but to support Israel's government during this time."
Kadima Chairwoman Tzipi Livni attacked Netanyahu's conduct when it comes to foreign policy warrants criticism, but she refused to criticize his handling of the prisoner exchange to free abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit.
Livni accused Netanyahu of playing political games and stressed that Kadima acts as a moral alternative to Netanyahu's government.
Kadima MK and former Knesset speaker Dalia Itzik earlier on Wednesday lashed out at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the Knesset plenum session.
"It is hard to ignore the impression that you wanted to be elected, but not to lead," Itzik said addressing Netanyahu. "You wanted people to call you Prime Minister Netanyahu and that's all."
Itzik accused Netanyahu of making political deals while the entire nation waited to hear whether abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit would be freed.
She went on to discuss Netanyahu's policy on the Iran nuclear issue, saying, "Instead of creating a coalition against Iran's nuclear program, you are creating a coalition of pressure against Israel."
Another key ally of Livni lashed out Wednesday at "the chauvinistic conduct" of Netanyahu in light of reports that the premier is actively seeking to entice lawmakers from the opposition Kadima party to defect to Likud.
"The prime minister doesn't respect the people's choice, democracy's choice," Haim Ramon, who serves as chairman of the Kadima council, told Army Radio on Wednesday.
Ramon was referring to reports that a group of seven disgruntled lawmakers from Kadima are being courted by Netanyahu to ditch the faction in favor of the ruling Likud.
The MKs, which include Ronit Tirosh, Eli Aflalo, and Otniel Schneller, are said to be disillusioned with Livni's leadership style. Livni met with the legislators on Tuesday for a tense discussion on the matter.
"Netanyahu and [Defense Minister Ehud] Barak are behaving in a chauvinistic manner," Ramon told Army Radio. "We have here a vulgar, cynical attempt by a prime minister who in the midst of the most dramatic of days, when we thought that his head is totally devoted to Gilad Shalit, it turns out that some of his energy is being redirected in offering various enticements [to Kadima MKs]," Ramon said.
Ramon, a former vice premier during Ehud Olmert's tenure as prime minister, said that the "disrespect" shown by Netanyahu toward Livni stems from "chauvinistic conduct".
He also dismissed claims made in the past by Livni's top rival for the party's leadership, Shaul Mofaz, according to which the former foreign minister does not display enough leadership.
"Livni brought about an extraordinary result [in the elections by leading Kadima to 28 seats]," Ramon said. "There are not a few [lawmakers] who are sitting in the Knesset thanks to Tzipi Livni."
"There was a real discussion in Kadima on whether we need to enter the coalition or not," Ramon said. "I too had doubts. [Livni] said, 'Despite the fact that I could be foreign minister and deputy prime minister, I will have no part in the government.' Is this not leadership?"
Ramon predicted that Netanyahu's ploy would fail and that Kadima would maintain its current composition. "Kadima has become the only alternative," Ramon said. "It's either Bibi or Tzipi."
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Isrraelis to bacck him because he will improve their lives. Netanyahu merely panders to fears over threats which simply does not exist.
Though the article was supposedly about Knesset Member Aflalo, I failed to find his name in any of the above postings. My reading of this mystery is that most of the writers have never heard of him, I do not remember his name being mentioned prominently in the various media. So, once again, one of our politrukim has taken it upon himself to rearrange the electorate choices; it may be otherwise, but I doubt that his motives are all that pure.
...who would have thought otherwise...? ...so what are Bibi's aids agitating about...?
I did not comment on whether the government is doing a good job. My point was that it was democratically elected by the people which, I believe, makes it more likely to do a good job but it is no guarantee. The answer to your question is that in my opinion it is too early to come to a definite conclusion. So far the government's greatest achievement has been to avoid war while reducing, although not eliminating, rocket fire into Israel. Last spring the PM made an important diplomatic initiative calling for peace and a demilitarized Palestinian state. As usual, this was rejected by the enemies of peace but it had a positive effect in strengthening national unity. Some of that national unity has since been lost by the anti-Jewish freeze, which is both misguided and a violation of election promises. The government's real test is how it deals with the Iranian nuclear crisis. We will see.
Mr Netanyahu has a grip on reality and the lessons of history that the opposition parties lack. The enemy is at the door trying to knock it down:Hamas,Hizbollah,Iran all actually physically attacking;the rest of the Arab world,including Egypt and Jordan,doing its best to undermine Israel;a concerted effort by Israel- and Jew-haters all around the world to turn Israel into a pariah state.Yet in the face of all this all we see is political in-fighting and jockeying for political position and power. How many times do the Jewish people have to meet disaster before they realize that disunity is their undoing? THREE CHEERS FOR ISRAEL!!!
The US government either CIA or State Depart cannot creat a party in another country..Dean, you spew such false information. What racist stuff about gentiles not allowing "jews to win." Dean, political forces in Israel have been too right leaning and its only natural that power swings left or new institutions are created that are left of center. Israel needs to comprise and start with a settlement freeze a real one and then head to the peace table. US taxpayers spend too much on Israel and get very little in return..that needs to change.
Does that mean that you think the current government is doing a good job? Can you list some of the good things they have done so far that really advance the good of Israel?
...Bibi does not deserve carte-blanche to do as he pleases, nor as his 'advisers' sway him... ...meanwhile there is still a modicum of free speech in Israel...
Italian parties have been on the 'take' from the State Dept and CIA for years to keep out the Communists. Kadima is also such a compromied creature to (unsuccessfully) keep out Bibi and the ilk of Begin and their strong types. They changed the election laws to keep Bibi out last time, now its Kadima, and 'K' Street, and industrialist 'Jewish influence' like the president of Shamrock leaning on Israel to compromise themself to death. You can't cut a lasting deal with the Arabs and Israel can't rely on the USA to allow the Jews an victory over the Arabs; its not allowed that Jews 'win' in the Gentile mind.
get off your soapbox esther you have nothing useful to say or do !!
he shows that he is a PM, but when it comes to decisions, then that is Not for him, he rather pass the buck to others, even to the citizens. But for how long will he allowed to carry on?
God said we are to obey & support those people God puts in power...such as the Prime Minister.. It IS vanity...disrespect & disobedience to God & his people...to criticize ... not to support.. It shows satan has a hold in government parties ... OBEY the Bible...or there won't be any Israel left to fight over... SHAME on You LIVNI...who do you think you are? God will judge you...your day is coming... SUPPORT Netanyahu...don't you think he has enough on his plate because you rats are NOT helping him... SHAME on ALL of You... Your future IS at stake... open your eyes ! close your prideful ...evil hearts...
this is another reason why we will go six feet under on a solomons "magic" carpet.
Wake-up Israel Your future is at stake... Doesn't matter what party you are in... you are ALL in ISRAEL... the ISRAEL this evil world fails to recognize or support, because it IS GOD'S ISRAEL... You MUST stand together...unified for ALL your sakes! The devil seeks to kill, steal & destroy...by dividing the people & land... This IS A satanic strategy...to divide & conquer...one of God's Bible principals satan is using against Israel- God's chosen people... Unify for God's Sake if not for your families, grandchildren Have some national respect & dignity....
"Netanyahu: Opposition must back government in its peace policies (Haaretz)" Such as: ...perpetuating the settlment-industry with loopholes for every make-believe restriction... ...pretending that stolen Pal lands are to "protect Israel's borders"... ...declaring Judge Goldstein as persona-non-grata, because he tells truths that are hard for us to deal with... ...keeping Uzi Arad as his favorite oracle...
warmongering before there were settler "terrorists" #7. What goes around comes around!
Nothing is so dangerous to Israel as the settler enterprise. Neither Iran, nor Hezbollah, Syria or Hamas can destroy Israel. The settlers have the power to cause civil war in Israel from within.
between jews and israelis. real jews not fake jews.
Your complaint is that the parties you call "unworthy" won most of the votes and therefore got a majority in the Knesset. That is democracy. Perhaps you would prefer the Iranian system where the President is the candidate who wins the least votes? Livni's 28 seats out of 120 did not entitle her to be Prime Minister but she could have continued as Foreign Minister if she had been willing to work with the Knesset majority. She decided to put her personal ambition ahead of the national interest and for that reason is unlikely to win anything like 28 seats in the next election. The voters are not stupid.
and policies that are good for the people. i think Livni has been doing a good job as opposition, and at times may be too mild for opposition (but for good reason)
YOU ARE PROBABLY THE MOST DESTRUCTIVE PRIME MINISTER WE HAVE EVER HAD
"Netanyahu: Goldstone is code-word for undermining legitimacy of self-defense (Haaretz)" The honoroable Goldstone is a judge. In his judicial capacity he witnessed that Israel had stepped way beyond accepted humane norms in what it inflicted on the population of Gaza, notably women and children. Now he is falted, that being a Jew he should have suspended his ethical norms in favour of Israel, or remained completely shtum. How could he have done this and retained his integrity...?
they fight jews from living in home. a mobster mob of compromise. setting free 100s of murderers, army against jews, giving away the Promised land, denuding all human rights, favoring eenemies, permitting arabs to build everywhere. Only G-D will save us!
Mr. Soundbyte" himself Bibi is wrong as usual. Israels multiple threats are solely terrorists, terrorists and more terrorists who call themselves settlers, settlers and more settlers. It is they who will destroy Israel not the Palestinians, Hamas, Hizbullah or Iran.
A sexual predetor and a defector from Likud, who helped form the Kadima party, at the expense of the people of Sederot, Nahal Oz and the refugees from Gush katif and the produce economy of Israel are crying crocoddile tears when some of these defectors are offered a chance to return to the Likud Party.
... who established commendable relations with the PA, and maintained them with mutual trust and respect... ... it is thanks to Livni's reliable work that we have the option for peaceful relations with the PA to this day... ... it is not her nature to use trumpets and ta-ra-ram about her achievements... ... it must have been very trying to work with a chronic self-lover such as Olmert... but she did it in-the-line-of-duty...
... the truth is Israel is run by children ! "despite the fact that i could be foreign minster and deputy prime minster" Livni So that is it all about serving the country ! "... the primer actively seeking to entice law makers etc.." Ed Aren't supposed that the 'law makers' have a mind of their own ?! And their first duty is NEVER to be 'enticed' ?! Shame for the opposition & the rest !
Its one thing that sex offendor Ramon is a senior member in the Kadima party, but the cheek he has for coming out and saying that Netanyahu is chauvinistic!!! Also, a large part of Livni's campaign was based on the fact that she is a woman! Others, like Mofaz in kadima deserve to stay in Kadima until its colapse together with their political carriers.
Yes, we need leaders who have good principles and care for the common good of the country, like Livni. She actually won Bibi in the election. The problem is other unworthy parties decided to form the coalition with the otherwise losing party. If she is the PM now, things will have been quite different. At least less outright rebellion by the extreme right being tolerated at the expense of the country. That is however part and parcel of history: it is too hard to get a good government.
of all people - Mr. Sex Offender says that Bibi is chauvinistic! We all know that Kadima will fall apart as it has no policy and never did. It is a party of political refugees who wanted to hang onto their jobs. The fact that they got 28 seats demonstrates a great deal about the power of marketing/spin and the naivity of the Israeli public. Livni was the worst FM ever (and that's really saying something). Her efforts (and Kadima) over the Lebanon and Gaza wars were terrible. She is a political lightweight and how she ever became Kadima leader is beyond me. Kadima is finished. Good ridance for bad rubbish (not that Bibi is so great).