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.”
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.