Shaul Mofaz beats Tzipi Livni in Kadima leadership primaries
Shaul Mofaz won the Kadima party leadership primaries on
Tuesday, after a tight race against former party chairwoman Tzipi Lvini.
With 100% of the votes counted, Mofaz won 61.7 percent of
the vote - a total of 23,987 votes - and Livni took 37.23 percent - a total of
14,516 votes.
In a speech in response, Mofaz told those gathered at the
Kadima party headquarters, "This evening, Kadima has been chosen,"
adding "Kadima has won."
Mofaz emphasized the need for a strong and united party
following the primaries, calling on Livni to join him in the effort to
"return Israel to the right path."
"Tzipi, you place is with us," he said.
In his speech, Mofaz appealed to Israelis to have faith
in Kadima's new journey "to the Israel we lost, that we dreamt about, that
can be different," and expressed his conviction that Kadima would pose a
significant challenge to Prime Minister Netanyahu's administration in Israel's
general elections.
Earlier on Tuesday night, Livni said in response to
Mofaz's victory, “You are the beautiful face of the state and I got here for
you. I am grateful to each and every one of you for the embrace of faith,
preparation and friendship. I believe that the state deserves the leadership
you are worthy of. These are elections, and these are the results.”
In another speech later on Tuesday night, Livni thanked
party members and citizens for their support, and said that she telephoned Mofaz
to congratulate him on the victory. "These are the results," she
said, adding that she would not be answering any questions, as it had been a
long night.
Ehud Olmert, who is on a visit to the U.S., phoned to
congratulate Mofaz on his victory. The two discussed that maintaining unity in
Kadima is important, even after the primaries. The former prime minister
promised to make every effort to help Mofaz to keep the party united.
Avi Dichter, who dropped out of the Kadima leadership
context last week, said of Mofaz's victory: “Today there is one winner, the
Kadima party. There is no doubt that the decision to join forces for the future
of Kadima was the right one. “
A relatively small number of Kadima members, much lower
than in the previous leadership contest in 2008, voted in almost 200 ballot
boxes located in over 104 municipalities during the vote on Tuesday. Both
Livni, Kadima’s chairwoman who is seeking reelection, and her rival, MK Shaul
Mofaz, encouraged party members to vote, hoping that higher participation would
increase their chances of winning.
Mofaz voted on Tuesday morning, shortly after the polls
opened. He arrived at the Kfar Sava ballot box, accompanied by his wife Orit,
after visiting his parents’ graves. He was also surrounded by dozens of
supporters who chanted slogans.
“I intend to win the general elections and bring (Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu down,” Mofaz said. “Our country deserves a new
social agenda, a different government system, equality of civic duties, and
more serious attempts to achieve peace in our region.”
Mofaz said that he intends to cooperate with Livni if he
clinches the top job. “Cooperation is always feasible and desirable as long as
it benefits the people of Israel,” he said.
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