With just two days left in office, Kadima Chairwoman Tzipi Livni gathered close to 30 party officials at her private residence in Tel Aviv for a determined pep-talk.
"It was important for me to bring you all together ahead of this coming week, which won't be easy for any
of us. I know that it isn't easy to leave a state ministry," she told the assembled crowd, adding that Kadima's decision for walking away from the new government was the right one. "It a testament to what Kadima is," she said.
The outgoing foreign affairs minister explained once again why she refused to join what she called "a government of Bibi's (Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu) natural partners.
"We were ready to consider if it was clear that there was a genuine intention and willingness to uphold what we believe in. 'A clean slate,' I told Bibi, and he, honestly, told me – I have previous commitments that I can't let go. Their way is not our way."
Livni couldn't refrain from aiming yet another barb at Labor Chairman Ehud Barak. "The public's faith in politics has vanished, we are on the road to anarchy with the way politicians behave here.
"Kadmia was in favor of finding common ground with Yisrael Beitenu but would not have given all law enforcement portfolios, Kadima believes in giving to those who are without, but not the way Shas does."
Livni ended by promising those assembled that she would lead "a strong fighting opposition, an opposition that has something to say and something to offer. Kadima will be the movement that acts not only in the Knesset – it will be a social movement that stands as an alternative and that will show people what can and should be here."