After blaming Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on
Sunday for "folding" because of her support for the 2009 State Budget, on Monday Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz also
claimed that his opponent in the Kadima elections pushed for "the bad decision to release the Palestinian prisoners."
Mofaz was referring to the release
of 198 Palestinian prisoners, which Israel undertook as a goodwill gesture towards Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Speaking in Or Akiva the transportation minister said, "Releasing the Palestinian prisoners while (captive IDF soldier) Gilad Shalit is not yet with us inspires very difficult feelings in me. Making bad decisions is worse than making no decisions, and it leads to us having released 700 Palestinian prisoners for nothing. Sadly, Tzipi Livni pushed for this.
"We need a strong and decisive leadership that will protect our national interests and Israel's interest is to return Gilad Shalit," he said, adding that "we will be required to release prisoners for Shalit, the significance of this being we have to hold on to them until he is freed.
"The release is a very big mistake, and I say we should not give up valuable assets that harm the State of Israel."
Livni's office responded to Mofaz's outburst by stating, "It's saddening to see the way in which Mofaz responds to his situation. We will not stoop to his level, and continue to represent honest and victorious leadership – with which Kadima will win."
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