Mofaz accuses Livni camp of 'racist behavior'
Kadima chairmanship hopeful holds press conference, presents polling numbers showing he stands to win upcoming primaries with 47.3% of votes; slams Livni's camp over 'riffraff' comment
Transportation Minister and Kadima chairmanship hopeful Shaul Mofaz held a press conference Sunday, in which he slammed his opponent Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni's campaign headquarters for what he called "racist behavior."
A senior source in Livni's campaign HQ was quoted as saying that he was concerned about Mofaz gaining support at Livni's expense, adding that "all the riffraff went with Mofaz, and here there is a strange feeling of calm."
"Never, in all my life and all my years of service in the IDF, have I encountered ethnic issues. It has never been made into an issue until now. This is the first time in 40 years that I've heard such obvious remarks to that effect," said Mofaz, adding he expected Livni to dismiss the person responsible for the malicious remark.
Livni herself has denounced the remark: "This is not our way, and whoever thinks and says so does not belong with us"; but according to Mofaz, the incident was indicative of the way in which her campaign headquarters conducted itself throughout the chairmanship bid.
"A negative campaign is legitimate, although I chose to do things differently. Stooping as low as to make such hurtful remarks, which I thought were long passed us, is just too much. I would have expected Livni to find the responsible party and remove them from her midst. This proves that she lacks the ability to make brave decisions," he said.
With just four days left to the Kadima primaries, Mofaz told reporters, he was sure of his victory. Mofaz went on to present the reporters with polling numbers indicating he stands to win the primaries bid in the first round, with 43.7% of the future votes. He did not cite the source of his polling numbers.
As for his future coalition, Mofaz told reporters he intends on "keeping the current coalition base. I've spoken with the relevant party leaders and we have an understanding.
"I have also spoken with several parties which are not members of the coalition on one hand, but still would rather avoid general elections. They have expressed their desire to join (the coalition) and we can see our way to a future understanding," he concluded.
