The largest party in Knesset today, Kadima, is quickly dissolving and according to pre-election polls, it will have insignificant representation in the 19th Knesset. The party, which was launched by Ariel Sharon and then run by Ehud Olmert, Tzipi Livni, and now Shaul Mofaz, is not showing much hope for the election. Mofaz, who broke from Likud to find a place in Kadima is rapidly finding himself the head of a sinking ship, as the key players in the party move to other parties in an effort to secure a respectable slot in the next Knesset.

For Mofaz, he does not appear to have much to offer other than bashing Likud and others, lacking substance and originality or a plan for improving the situation tomorrow, he is losing support from within. Mofaz decided to use the issue of the chareidi draft as a main campaign issue, but he has failed to attract the masses as he expected the ‘sharing the burden’ would.

Otniel Schneller, one of those breaking away has nothing but criticism for Mofaz’s handling of the party and the election campaign. Ditto for Avi Dichter, who moved to Likud and is now serving as Minister of the Homefront. Senior party member Meir Sheetrit has not responded, but is weighing an offer to leave Kadima to head the new pensioner’s party, Dor.

For Mofaz has his loyalists the birth of the Yesh Atid Party of Yair Lapid and Am Shalem Party of Chaim Amsellem have left Kadima without purpose and the polls concur, placing Kadima at 3 seats in the upcoming Knesset, a far cry from its current 28 seats.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)