Peres: Kadima is the way to go
Photo: Eli Elgarat
Peres: I'll likely stay in Kadima
Despite calls to bring Peres back to Labor, longtime politician says he will likely stay in Sharon's party under Olmert's leadership
Staying in Kadima: Knesset Member Shimon Peres, who according to press reports has been mulling his future in Kadima, said Sunday he is likely to stay in Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's party.
In interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, Peres he will most probably be on the party's list, saying the party will certainly be headed by Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
Asked whether Olmert will be leading the party, Peres replied: "The answer is clearly yes, positively yes."
During the interview, Blitzer confronted Peres with polls published on the weekend, indicating Kadima is set to receive more seats in parliament if Peres leads the party.
In response, Peres said he had no wish to be prime minister, but merely wanted to advance peace.
When asked whether he plans to support Kadima or Labor in the elections, Peres said that Kadima is very close in its political outlook to Labor's platform, adding he did not change his views.
Peres added his positions were almost identical to those held by Sharon and called on his supporters to vote for Kadima in the upcoming elections.
'Labor's doors open to anyone'
Meanwhile, the Labor party has been recently considering the need to bring Peres, a longtime member, back to the party. In wake of Prime Minister Sharon's deteriorating condition, the calls to bring Peres back to Labor have intensified, although not publicly.
At a faction meeting held Sunday at party headquarters, Labor Chairman Amir Peretz indirectly hinted that Peres would be welcomed back, saying: "Every political figure needs to decide where his or her natural political home. Labor's doors are open to anyone."
"We will not be dragged into an attempt to make an issue of political disagreements," Peretz added, referring to Sharon's condition. "At a time like this, the Israeli public expects us to be restrained. It's easy to get carried away to political disputes."
"I am patient, and will say what I have to say at the proper time," Peretz concluded.
