Mofaz (L) and Livni. Tensions high.
Photo: Amit Shabi
Mofaz 'in dialgue' with senior Netanyahu aide
Ynet learns figure close to prime minister telephoned Kadima's No. 2 while tensions high following Mofaz's threat to leave party. Sources estimate Netanyahu will summon MK to meet with him
A figure close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu telephoned Knesset Member Shaul Mofaz (Kadima), Ynet learned on Tuesday.
With tensions running high within Kadima after the ultimatum presented by Mofaz to party chairperson Tzipi Livni, Mofaz and Netanyahu's representative discussed options for Mofaz leaving Kadima.
Political Tension
Attila Somfalvi
Ynet report on deadline set by Mofaz for primary elections sparks political row. Likud waiting for developments, Kadima sources call on chairwoman to prevent split in party
Sources close to Mofaz confirmed that "there has been dialogue recently with people representing Netanyahu," but declined to give details.
Sources involved in the talks estimated that the prime minister would summon Mofaz for a meeting in the near future. Netanyahu is believed to have presented Mofaz with a detailed offer, and his personal lawyer, David Shimron, is said to be involved in the talks.
On Monday it was reported that Mofaz had met Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman after Livni's rejection of Mofaz's demand to hold party primaries. Lieberman's office said that he is accustomed to meeting many Knesset members of various factions, and that he spoke with Mofaz about a number of issues.
However, the political system rushed to grant special significance to the meeting, due to the deep rift between Livni and Mofaz and the ultimatum, according to which Mofaz, who occupies the second place on the party list, said he would split from the party if primaries were not held within three weeks.
Livni released a statement Tuesday afternoon saying, "Kadima's statute determines that primaries be held three months before the elections. If moving them forward would benefit the party, to an earlier date in the election year, and not more than nine months or a year before the elections – I will agree to this."
"I will not support any other date, which would mean the continuation of the struggle and personal defamation instead of the struggle for advancing our party interests," Livni added.
However, she hinted at a way out: "Despite of the authority invested in me by the statute, I have no problem with other proposals and I am willing to put it to vote. If someone wishes to submit a different proposal, he may do so. I have done so to Shaul (Mofaz). This is the meaning of democracy."
A date has not yet been determined for the next general elections, but if they are not brought forward as has happened in most cases, they will not be held before February 2013, four years after the last elections.
Thus, in accordance with Livni's position regarding the issue, it will not be possible to hold Kadima primaries before February 2012, while Mofaz is demanding primaries within the current year.
