Kadima Leader Shaul Mofaz on Monday submitted a letter to Knesset House
Committee chairman Yariv Levin requesting the dismissal of four MKs who
expressed their will to leave Kadima for the Likud.
The four Kadima MKs
are Otniel Schneller, Arieh Bibi, Avi Duan and Yulia Shamolov Berkovich.
MK Ya'acov Edri (Kadima) who on Monday morning backed out of the group
striving for the political split, was not listed in the letter.
"Whoever wants to go, should go," Mofaz said Monday speaking at the Knesset following his submission of the letter.
"If you want to join the corrupt, and the draft dodgers, there is no place for you in Kadima. If you want to leave we won't make you stay," Mofaz said.
"Kadima will act against corruption and change the bad government system," Mofaz continued, stressing that he would continue to fight for a substantial replacement to the Tal Law. "We won't let Netanyahu pass a second Tal Law using political bribery."
"Anyone who negotiated with Netanyahu will have to do some soul searching... with themselves, their family and their children," the Kadima leader added.
This move came following late-night meetings Sunday night as Kadima rebels, headed by former
minister Tzachi Hanegbi, attempted to recruit seven Kadima MKs to leave
the party for Likud.
Their attempts broke down Monday, as the group were left with only four of the seven MKs required to split the party.
Edri clarified Monday morning that he had not decided to leave Kadima for the Likud. On
Sunday, Edri has been listed as one of the five MKs who had confirmed that
they wanted to leave Kadima for the Likud, along with Otniel Schneller,
Arieh Bibi, Avi Duan and Yulia Shamolov Berkovich.
Edri stated that he has not signed any document, has not joined any group, and is still weighing up his options.
Meanwhile,
MK Nino Abesadze (Kadima) also refuted rumors that she was part of the
move, asserting that she would not be part of a "shady deal" that would
strengthen Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.
Abesadze said she
would not be a partner in a move that would enable Netanyahu to pass an
"empty" replacement to the Tal Law, as well as a "cruel budget."
However,
Absedadze added, "there is no doubt that Kadima has come to the end of
its role, but if I make a political move, it will be solely on
ideological grounds, not for compensation, and not as part of a dirty
deal."
Netanyahu has been trying for three years to split Kadima, and his
efforts have borne fruit in meetings with its lawmakers over the past two
days.
Such a split could help Netanyahu widen his coalition again, pass
the 2013 state budget, and avoid early elections.