Former prime minister Ehud Olmert lashed out at his thenforeign minister, Tzipi
Livni, Tuesday, warning Israelis not to vote for her Tzipi Livni
Party.
Speaking at an event for Kadima mayors in Ramat Gan, Olmert sang
the praises of current Kadima chairman Shaul Mofaz and mocked The Tzipi Livni
Party’s slogan.
“I hear that the hope will vanquish the fear,” Olmert
said. “That is indeed a nice slogan, and I am not against slogans. But
what is the practical content behind it? If there is anyone who has already
proven that he knows how to defeat fear in the streets and provide security and
hope to the citizens of Israel, it is the man who, as IDF chief of staff,
commanded Operation Defensive Shield and defeated the second
intifada.”
He did not spare criticism for Labor leader Shelly Yacimovich
either. He slammed the socioeconomic plan that Yacimovich unveiled last month
and presented further on Monday in a mock debate with Prime Minister Binyamin
Netanyahu.
“Labor wants to add billions to the budget,” Olmert
said.
“Did they bother to find a source for funding that? This is
populist, shoddy work. It displays a lack of credibility and a lack of
experience.”
A Labor spokesman responded that Labor was the only party
with a comprehensive, responsible and serious socioeconomic plan. The spokesman
made reference to the ongoing criminal investigations against Olmert and said he
would be wise to remain silent.
“Olmert, in his present situation, would
do himself a lot of good if he would refrain from interfering in this election,”
the Labor spokesman said. “When Olmert was prime minister, social services were
privatized, socioeconomic gaps widened, and the middle class was
harmed.”
The former premier saved the bulk of his criticism for
Netanyahu, who he said was incapable of making decisions and was unfit to remain
prime minister. He said Netanyahu had claimed credit for achievements of
Olmert’s government.
He urged voters to look at the list of candidates on
the cusp of entering the Knesset in the polls before deciding which party to
vote for in the January 22 election.
“Do you know who No. 30 is in the
Likud?” Olmert asked.
“Do you know who is 15th in Labor? Or 10th on
Livni’s list? I know who is first on Kadima’s list: A man who has brought a lot
of benefit to the state, and that is why I felt compelled to stand beside him.”