Barak: We'll force moral repair in Kadima
A day after saying Israel must prepare for elections, defense ministers convenes some 200 Labor Party activists, Knesset members in Tel Aviv, tells them 'we must put aside our differences and unite in order to win elections.' Kadima MK: Barak is the last person to talk about morals
On Thursday, the party decided to form an election headquarters ahead of possible Knesset elections.
According to the Labor chairman, "We will be required to work together, put aside our differences, and work across the country. The time has come for action, the time has come for a deep ideological and moral repair in society. If we wish to exist as a state, we must act, and we will act."
Infrastructure Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer called on the activists to start working ahead of elections, despite the party's difficulties.
"From this day we are preparing for the election campaign," he said. "We have no money, we have problems in our offices, but there is one thing that cannot be taken away from us: Our soul and our energy.
"We know how to work like a family in critical moments, and we have to get organized and win the elections. I know the people and thousands others on the streets – and will do it big time."
Addressing the suspicions against Ehud Olmert, Ben-Eliezer said, "The problem with the prime minister is public rather than legal. The public expects is to do something. I want a prime minister who can devote 100% of his attention to the difficult security problems. With all my appreciation and sympathy for him, he is busy with his personal problems."
Kadima MKs: Barak shouldn’t lecture us
Kadima Knesset members responded with anger to Barak's remarks Friday afternoon.
"It's amazing how a person whose moral back is bent down by the burden of the NGOs (non-governmental organizations) affair, which he continues to carry on his back, and who was said to have bought a regime with money, allows himself to lecture others about political and public purity.
"Barak does not even believe himself, and from all public opinion polls published today it appears that the public doesn’t believe him and his collapsing party as well," a Kadima source said.
MK Isaac Ben-Israel advised Barak not to interfere in things that have nothing to do with him.
"Kadima should not be urged by a person who was interrogated in the past and barely escaped from an illegal fund raising affair. Kadima is a respectable ruling party which will find the proper and democratic way to change the government in an appropriate manner for the sake of the State's future, the quality of government and its moral image," he said.
MK Yoel Hasson said that the Labor chairman should engage in his party's affairs before offering to "help" others.
"A crooked ruler cannot straighten a straight ruler. Barak is the last person who can lecture Kadima about integrity, public morals and leadership. He should first of all take control of his party and stop it from collapsing in the public opinion polls before he serves as a teacher of ethics and values," he added.
MK Shai Hermesh, a resident of a Gaza vicinity community, chose to criticize Barak's performance as defense minister and his failure to stop the rockets fired at the area.
"Before Mr. Barak deals with problems which do not belong to him, like the problems in Kadima, he should act like a defense minister and halt the rocket threat on the south's residents."
In a special press conference Wednesday, Barak called on the Kadima party to self-examine itself. "I don’t believe that the prime minister can run the government and his personal affairs at the same time," he said.
Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni broke her long silence Thursday, addressing the suspicions against Olmert and the political crisis following Barak's demand that Olmert suspend himself.
In a Jerusalem conference, the foreign minister said that "Kadima is at a point in which it must make decisions and prepare for any scenario, including early elections."
Amnon Meranda contributed to this report
