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Photo: Tzafrir Aviyov
Says Bibi hurt Likud voters. Mofaz
Photo: Tzafrir Aviyov
Photo: Hagai Aharon
Defense minister attacked his economic policy. Netanyahu
Photo: Hagai Aharon

Mofaz to Bibi: You’ll destroy Likud

Defense Minister calls on Likud Central Committee members to reject Netanyahu’s initiative to bring the party’s primary elections forward, says, ‘Bibi, if your battle (to push up the primaries) succeeds, you will be remembered as the person who destroyed Likud’

Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz called Thursday on Likud Central Committee members to reject the proposal to bring the party’s primary elections forward.

 

Mofaz, who spoke during a New Year’s toast, launched a scathing attack on former Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying, “Bibi, if your battle (to push up the primaries) succeeds, you will be remembered as the person who destroyed Likud.”

 

When asked whether he would remain in the party should Prime Minister Ariel Sharon resign from it, the defense minister said, “A sane party does not cut its rule short, and we will continue to run the country. I am a Likud member and we will remain in the party. We have to wait and see what will happen on Monday (Central Committee convention).”

 

“The dismantling of Likud may result in the rise of the Labor Party to power, Mofaz said.

 

'We will be surprised if we win'

 

Mofaz also criticized Netanyahu’s economic policy, saying, “I want to say to Bibi: It is clear that the economic policy, which I was opposed to, has caused us severe damage. It caused damage in every corner, and hurt thousands of Likud voters.”

 

“I have spoken with several Likud activists in the past few days, and some of them object to bringing the primaries forward despite their support for Bibi, as such a move may lead to the end of Likud’s rule,” he said.

 

“We must stand united during next year’s general elections.”

 

Meanwhile, Likud Knesset Member Uzi Landau, who also supports early primary elections, said, “Sharon has become the (Theodore) Herzl of the Palestinian state; the visionary of the Palestinian state. He must be replaced. We must defeat the corrupt leadership.”

 

Sources close to the prime minister said they believe the proposal to push up the primaries may be rejected on Monday, but one source added, “We will be surprised if we win after all that has happened this past week.”

 

Meanwhile, the Netanyahu camp has also been busy in the run up to Monday's vote. Netanyahu aides have been working to prevent a scenario according to which the prime minister would resign from the Likud, and hold lightening elections), thereby causing the party to crash.

 

Netanyahu believes he can rally a block of 61 Knesset Members that would prevent moves towards a general elections, and which could appoint Netanyahu as prime minister if Sharon retires.

 

Despite such speculations, however, it was Netanyahu who said three months ago that the only politician who can dissolve the Knesset and draft 61 Knesset members was Sharon. In talks with journalists, the then finance minister ruled out the possibility that he, or another Knesset member could find 61 voices (just over half) to prevent a move towards elections. Even today, there is much doubt that Netanyahu could find that number of Knesset members to back him.

 

Meanwhile, the Shinui party has decided that it would no longer accept donations, even if they are legal. The party's secretary decided that "the receiving of donations corrupts the political system." Shinui Chairman Yosef (Tommy) Lapid called on all parties to follow Shinui and refuse donations, saying, "The funds given to parties by the state are certainly enough and there is no need of donations, even of a shekel, from citizens both here and abroad."

 


פרסום ראשון: 09.22.05, 22:16
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