Shalom reaffirms plans to stay in the Likud

Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom responded to Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz's Sunday announcement that he was joining Kadima. Shalom affirmed that he intended to remain in the Likud, in order "to lead the Likud to new heights." He said that "had Mofaz stayed another week, he would see the Likud blossoming anew. It is sad to see a man who called the Likud 'home' abandon the party," he added. He promised that he was the only one who could return the "party to the people," and vowed not to let the party "fall to extremists."