Mofaz's position as No. 2 in Kadima likely secured

Move follows threats to 'ruin' Livni's supporters in election for party list.

By SHELLY PAZ
Mofaz 224.88 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski [file])
Mofaz 224.88
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski [file])
Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz's position as second in the party to Kadima leader Tzipi Livni will likely be guaranteed, after threats by some of his supporters to politically destroy Kadima MKs who backed Livni in last month's party leadership primary. Kadima's MKs and ministers gathered Wednesday morning at the Knesset to decide how to address the demands by activists loyal to defeated party leadership contender Mofaz to secure his position, which would spare him having to compete in the upcoming primary to determine the party's Knesset candidates for the next election. On Tuesday night it was reported that several activists who supported Mofaz for Kadima chairman had threatened to "ruin" all of Livni's supporters - MKs and ministers - in the upcoming primary by omitting them from their rankings for the candidates list. Mofaz's associates denied that the demand to guarantee his position came from him. Other sources in Kadima told The Jerusalem Post that Mofaz's people wanted to avoid the bother that came with primary campaigns. "Mofaz really has nothing to worry about. Even if he doesn't leave his house he will be ranked in a good position. Besides, his ranking will have nothing to do with the portfolio he will receive," one Kadima MK told the Post. MK Ronit Tirosh, who supported Mofaz in the leadership primary, said he "personally forbade" her from demanding that his position as No. 2 be secured. "He didn't ask for it and if you ask me this alleged demand is the idea of the same people who spread the unrealistic rumor that he plans to form a coalition of his own behind Livni's back," Tirosh said. Although all Kadima MKs said they were unconcerned by the threats and despite Livni's statement on Tuesday that she would not deal with portfolios or promise anything at this point, including to Mofaz, on Wednesday morning things sounded different. "Livni's clear stance is that Shaul Mofaz is important to the party and it is important that he would be second to her because it reflects the [leadership] primary results," MK Tzahi Hanegbi told the Post after of the Kadima faction meeting. "Now the only thing that needs to be sorted out is how we secure his position, legally and politically. Everybody agrees with this decision and wants Mofaz to be second on the party's list of MKs for the Knesset." One of the MKs toward whom the threats of Mofaz's supporters were directed is Livni supporter Yohanan Plesner, who started his parliamentary career in September 2007. "There is a general agreement to reinforce Mofaz's position as second [in Kadima] and now we just need to find the technical solution in accordance with the party's regulations," Plesner said. When asked if he was afraid for his position following the threats by Mofaz's supporters, Plesner said: "There are always concerns when heading into elections, but our interest as a party is to agree on the way the primary will be conducted, a way that will keep us united. Mofaz's position in the party is strong and him being second in the party is not disputed." MK Yoel Hasson, the chairman of the party's Knesset faction, said he did not believe "hit lists" of people to leave off the list would appear. "I know the members of the party and I have friends who support Mofaz and I am sure they will take care of him in the primary," Hasson said. MK Shai Hermesh also downplayed the hit-list issue. "I don't believe there is a real intention to ruin party members and I believe that collective common sense will overcome the egos because after all, we need to shape an attractive list of MKs for the next Knesset as soon as possible," he said. Hermesh added that if he was asked to do so, he would vote to secure Mofaz's position, "but I believe it would work against him." Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit said that he was against guaranteeing Mofaz's position as No. 2. "I think it would work against him and I don't think he wants it at all. He would be ranked high even if he doesn't leave the house," Sheetrit said. "Kadima talked about a different kind of politics and this is how it is supposed to act. I suggested securing realistic positions for sector representatives [Russian and Ethiopian immigrants, Arabs, and so on] if they don't make it to the first 20 places on the list. "But other than that, any securing of spots could ruin Kadima and we shouldn't give in to the hit lists."