While senior Kadima Party officials Ministers Meir Sheetrit and Shaul Mofaz are not looking to replace Prime Minister Ehud Olmert [just yet], they are calling to arrange for party primaries, stating this is the only way to permit the party’s 60,000 registered voters to speak their voice. They are planning for the day after, following a scenario that the prime minister is compelled to step down, or opts to do so on his own, seeking to grab the party leadership from Tzipi Livni who views herself as Olmert’s natural successor.

Sheetrit told party officials the prime minister announced that he will step down in the event a criminal indictment is handed down against him, explaining that if this does occur, party elections must follow immediately.

In the meantime, Mofaz even prior to the Olmert affair began negotiating with Shas leader Eli Yishai, seeking to enlist Shas’ support for the Kadima leadership.

One senior Kadima official stated, “Livni can dream if she thinks she is going to replace Olmert. She is the only one in the party who believes such a scenario is possible.”

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)