Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on Sunday warned faction members that if the party does not decide on a date for primaries and implement the decision to elect a new leader, the party risks crumbling. She added that the party undertook to move to primaries and a failure to do so would seriously impact the party’s credibility.

Tensions between Livni and party leader Prime Minister Ehud Olmert are reportedly at an all-time high, with Olmert doing everything possible to stall and remain the party leader and the nation’s prime minister.

Olmert responded angrily to Livni’s statements, insisting he does not need anyone to read him what he already knows, resenting what he called “accusations and hints” at so-called wrongdoing.

Olmert added “I was the one who moved towards early primaries and approved the move. I do not have to take this criticism from anyone!”

Minister Avi Dichter called on members of the party’s governing board to vote.

There are 110 members of the governing board and at present, there are not enough votes cast to amend the party charter to permit the primary elections.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)