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Dichter. Not blind
Photo: Zeev Trachtman
Photo: Reuters
Livni. Dressed in black
Photo: Reuters

Livni visits Western Wall ahead of crucial vote

Kadima chairmanship candidates gear up for primary day. Foreign minister places note in wall, Internal Security Minister Dichter goes for morning swim in Ashkelon, vows to stand behind winner

Aiming forward. Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter opened the most crucial day in his bid for the Kadima party chairmanship with a morning swim in the Ashkelon beach. Two kilometers later, he was sober and realistic.

 

"I'm not blind. We read the same polls," Dichter said Wednesday morning, still in his swimsuit. "At the end of this day, if I don’t win, I will stand behind the elected chairperson and move forward in Kadima."

 

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni visited the Western Wall on Tuesday night, just hours before the crucial vote. She arrived at the Wall dressed in black together with her husband, Naftali Shpitzer, and placed a note between the stones.

 

Optimistic polls predict that Dichter will come in third. "I hope to receive 5,000 or perhaps 6,000 votes. I'm not disappointed or frustrated," the minister said.

 

"To sum it up, this campaign was a pleasure. Seeing hundreds of people enlisting, helping you run, backing you – I see this as something very beautiful. They are the investment in the infrastructure of my future political work. This is a camp with roots estimated at several thousands, but clearly this might not be enough.

 

"I don't want to commit to anything, but the real test is today from 10 am till 10 pm. This is the campaign day. Inquiries are conducted after the campaign."

 

'Reporters ignoring my work'

Dichter has been criticized numerous times for his performance as internal security minister and had a lot to say to the media Wednesday morning.

 

"You are ignoring what I did, who I am. These reporters are sitting on a tap and releasing stagnant water," he said.

 

But will he admit that he made some mistakes? "All I can say right now, following an inquiry we conducted, is that perhaps I should have started earlier. In any event, the person who wins in Kadima today will get my full support," said Dichter, before rushing home to put on his suit and cast his vote.

 

The 114 Kadima ballots set up throughout the country opened at 10:00 am and will close at 10:00 pm. The official winner will likely be announced at around 1:30 am.  

 

Attila Somfalvi contributed to this report

 


פרסום ראשון: 09.17.08, 09:41
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