Sharon's Kadima offically launches election campaign

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's new party, Kadima, opened its first election campaign under the slogans "Israel wants Kadima [to move ahead]" and "Sharon is a strong leader to peace." Kadima started out its PR line with a directive from Sharon: "Don't deal with what is happening in the place we wanted badly to leave. It's none of your business, it's none of our business."

The MKs at the meeting received a detailed briefing on aspects of the PR campaign and its message. They were told they would receive consults by strategists Ayal Arad and Lior Horev before every media appearance. Sharon's advice, and that of the consultants, was unequivocal: Ignore the Likud, even if the temptation is very great.

"We will not attack the Likud and will not deal with it. Let Bibi [Netanyahu] fight it out with Yvet [Avigdor Lieberman] and Zvi Hendel. We are marketing a party with a moderate policy," the consultants told the lawmakers of the new Knesset faction.

Yesterday morning, the party registered its official name at the registrar of political parties; yesterday afternoon it held its second meeting in less than a week. The meeting was chaired by the head of the party, Sharon, at his bureau in Tel Aviv. MK Roni Bar-On was appointed faction chair at the meeting, and various issues were brought up involving preparations for the elections to take place on March 28.

MK Haim Ramon, the former Labor Party member, and MK David Tal, who had been the head of the single-member faction Noi, were received with stormy applause.

Party activists last night began putting up some 500 campaign signs in an attempt to maintain the initial momentum generated by the new party's establishment.

The street-sign project is being led by advertising executive Reuven Adler, a close Sharon ally and advisor. Sources in the party said banners with the new party's campaign slogans would be put up tonight and in the coming days at major junctions throughout the country.