Livni, Mofaz, Dichter and Sheetrit agree to debate

Livni, Mofaz, Dichter and Sheetrit to meet in coming weeks; coalition chair Yoel Hasson endorses Livni.

By GIL STERN STERN HOFFMAN
Kadima candidates 224.88 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
Kadima candidates 224.88
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
The four candidates for the leadership of Kadima, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz, Interior Minister Meir sheetrit and Public Security Minister Avi Dichter agreed on Monday to a debate between the four of them that will be held within the next two or three weeks. The idea was raised by Kadima MK Yochanan Plesner, who said that the candidates needed to make their opinions known on the key issues of the day, citing Syria, the Gaza Strip, and peace talks with the Palestinians. The four candidates all agreed to hold the debate at the end of a two hour faction meeting, during which coalition chairman and Kadima MK Yoel Hasson announced his support for Livni. A Yediot Aharonot poll published on Friday indicated that in a two-horse race for the Kadima chairmanship Livni would beat Mofaz by 51 percent to 43%. According to the poll, Livni would also win in the first round of the primary if all three of her opponents remained in the race, taking 41% as opposed to 32% for Mofaz and 13% and 10% for Public Security Minister Avi Dichter and Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit, respectively. Elie Leshem contributed to this report