Livni says she will soon reveal her political plans

Former Kadima head says she will return to politics if she can "bring major change;" PM commends Kahlon for "remaining a Likudnik."

By LAHAV HARKOV
Tzipi Livni 370 (photo credit: Ben Hartman)
Tzipi Livni 370
(photo credit: Ben Hartman)
Former Kadima chairwoman Tzipi Livni promised Sunday night she would soon reveal her political plans.
“I am listening to the voices that are telling me to come back [to politics],” she said. “[Prime Minister Binyamin] Netanyahu must be brought down.”
Livni has been deliberating whether to make a political comeback after resigning from the Knesset in May, following her loss in the Kadima leadership primary to Shaul Mofaz.
On Sunday, Livni told Channel 2 News that she feels she needs more time before making a final decision, because she wants to make her comeback “properly.”
“Politics isn’t just a job for me or a position in a party. I only want to do this if I can bring about a major change, and not just because I can get a spot in a party, even if that is what happens this time,” she said. “Everyone will know my decision soon.”
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Livni did not hold back from criticizing her potential political rivals, calling Netanyahu a “peace refuser,” and hinting at Labor leader Shelly Yacimovich in saying it was “unfortunate” that some politicians on the Center-Left did not want to focus on negotiations with the Palestinians, “for political reasons.”
“This is the topic that brought me to politics and has driven me throughout my political life,” Livni added.
In recent weeks, sources close to Livni said she would wait for former prime minister Ehud Olmert to decide whether he would run for the 19th Knesset, but in recent days the same sources said she may might make an announcement before him.
Last week, Olmert and Livni met, saying that they would work to “change the government.” However, they did not specify how they would do so.
Olmert’s associates said he would not make a decision about his political future until he returned from abroad on November 15.
The US presidential election will influence his decision, because Olmert sees a win by Republican candidate Mitt Romney as an advantage for Netanyahu. On the other hand if President Barack Obama is reelected, sources close to the former prime minister say the Israeli political field would be more advantageous to him.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu commended Communications Minister Moshe Kahlon, who made the political roster ahead of the 19th Knesset clearer by announcing on Saturday night that he is not leaving the Likud.
“I know and respect Moshe Kahlon, and as Moshe constantly said, he was and remains a Likudnik,” Netanyahu said on Sunday.
“He promised to help and support me and bring the Likud to a victory in the coming election.”
Kahlon will take an active part in the election and be part of a committee making the next government’s socioeconomic plan, Netanyahu added.


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