Mofaz says party will be a ‘dignified’ opposition

Mofaz tells Peres that Kadima under his leadership will present an alternative to the current administration.

By GREER FAY CASHMAN
Shaul Mofaz wins Kadima primary 370 (photo credit: Itzik Edri, Kadima)
Shaul Mofaz wins Kadima primary 370
(photo credit: Itzik Edri, Kadima)
In his first working meeting with President Shimon Peres on Sunday, MK Shaul Mofaz, the newly elected head of Kadima, said Israel’s leaders should concern themselves with the welfare of the nation’s citizens, and that his party would be a dignified opposition.
It is part of the president’s routine to meet on some kind of a regular basis with the prime minister, leaders of coalition and opposition parties, heads of various divisions of the defense and intelligence establishment, governor of the Bank of Israel and other people in high positions.
In a closed-door meeting, Peres and Mofaz discussed various aspects of defense policy as well as the social and economic issues that are currently on the national agenda.
Peres congratulated Mofaz on his victory, saying that like any election in Israel it was neither simple nor easy.
He told Mofaz that once again he is carrying a heavy responsibility on his shoulders as he did when he served as chief of staff and later as defense minister.
In thanking Peres for having received him, Mofaz said he was fully aware of the degree of responsibility that he has taken upon himself and that for as long as he could remember he had made the welfare of the state his number one priority.
“This is the way I worked in the past and this is how I intend to work in the future,” he said. “Israel’s leaders must concern themselves with the welfare of the nation’s citizens in everything related to security, policy and socioeconomics.”
As he pledged in his election campaign and afterward, Mofaz told Peres that Kadima under his leadership will present an alternative to the current administration and will be a dignified opposition.
Peres commended Mofaz for having initiated the Atidim project during his period as chief of staff.
Atidim was established to narrow the socioeconomic gap between the center of the country and the peripheral regions through the provision of better educational resources and encouraging the pursuit of excellence.
Peres told Mofaz that he was very proud of the fact that Mofaz had continued to advance Atidim in his capacity as defense minister and afterward, saying that the project provides equal opportunities for higher education for people living in outlying areas.
Peres wished Mofaz success in his new role and congratulated Kadima for running the elections in an orderly manner.
Peres, who wants to make higher education easily accessible not only to Jewish communities located beyond the center of the country but also to minority communities, will pay an official visit to the fast developing Beduin city of Rahat on Monday, where he will announce the establishment of an academic unit that will be an extension of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.
Peres will tour Idan Hanegev, the new industrial park in Rahat where more than 30 companies will provide thousands of jobs for residents of the south.
Accompanied by Rahat Mayor Faiz Abu Seheban, Peres will also tour the new residential area which is within easy commuting distance of the industrial park.