Latest Kadima rebellion simmers down

Dichter will propose at Monday’s faction meeting forming a committee of MKs that will examine general changes in party’s constitution.

By GIL STERN STERN HOFFMAN
The Kadima Party’s governing council, which was expected to discuss joining the government or setting a date for a leadership primary in a decisive meeting on Wednesday, will instead merely hold an ideological forum in honor of the anniversary of the February 2009 election, party officials said on Sunday.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s associates, who negotiated with Kadima leader Tzipi Livni’s rival, MK Shaul Mofaz, last week, apparently failed to come up with an attractive enough proposal to bring to a vote in Kadima.
Mofaz and his ally, MK Avi Dichter, also failed in their efforts to draft a majority in their faction for advancing Kadima’s leadership race from its current date in the summer of 2013, to 2010. Mofaz gradually retreated from his initial demand to hold the race within three months, to agreement on a compromise date in spring 2011, but Livni was not willing to advance the race to any earlier than November 2012.
Instead, Dichter will propose at Monday’s faction meeting forming a committee of MKs that will examine general changes in Kadima’s constitution. A date for a primary would be discussed by the committee, but not immediately and only after other issues are dealt with so it would not look like a process of overthrowing Livni.
Livni succeeded in drafting a majority in the faction against compromises on a date for a primary. When she announced at last week’s faction meeting that she did not intend to compromise, not a single MK objected. Mofaz was not in the room.
Sources close to Livni said she was unwilling to initiate a primaryjust because someone did not like the results of the last race. Thesources confirmed reports that in a meeting with Netanyahu last week,Livni blasted him for interfering in her party.
“It’s unfortunate that the prime minister is engaged in vile politicaldeals to bring MKs into his coalition as spare parts,” Livni said. “Idon’t intend to play that game.”


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