Israel, Jerusalem, 1 September /corr. Trend R.Abdullayev / For several weeks, the war in South Ossetia extruded all other events, including Olympiad in Beijing, from the front pages of the world press, but could not "abolish" these events. Thus, in Israel the question on the agenda is who will gain the power, which literally fell out of the Primer Minister, Ehud Ulmert.
"I am proud of the fact that I am the citizen of the country, which holds investigation with regards to the Prime Minister. No one can be either above or out of the law. I will leave my post with honor and merit, and later I will prove my innocence," this ardent speech of 62 years old Prime Minister on the direct ether of the Israeli television stirred the entire country. Only the Primary at the ruling Kadima Party, which should take place on 17 September, can answer the question who will gain the power.
The Foreign Minister of Israel Tzipi Livni will easily win in the election for the new leader of ruling Kadima Party and will be able to replace Prime Minister Ehud Ulmert, the survey, carried out by the newspaper Maariv last Thursday showed. According to the results of survey, Livni obtained 49 percent of the voices of the members of ruling Kadima Party that strengthened its superiority over the nearest rival at the party - Minister of Transport Shaulem Mofaz. Mofaz obtained only 28 percent of the voices
The most probable candidate for the post of the Prime Minister of Israel, Tzipi Livni, worked as the Parisian agent Mossad - Israeli intelligence service - in the beginning of 1980. According to the evidence of the former employees, exactly at this time Mossad conducted a number of operations in the European capitals to annihilate Palestinian terrorists. It is reported that on 21 August 1983, when in Athens the employees of the special group of Mossad shot down the high-ranking official of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Mamun Mereysh, Livni was on battle duty.
A quarter of century later, 49 years old Livni pretends for the post of Prime Minister of Israel. Ehud Ulmert, who headed Israel for the last two and one-half years, is accused that he took bribes from the American businessman. In her interview, Livni repeatedly emphasized that she is not anybody's creature and her political weight is her personal merit. She says that policy for her is not the method of the advance of her persona, but "the method of the advance of her own views and persuasions".
According to her, she deals with the policy not in order to serve the interests of some person or group of people. Despite the fact that Livni calls herself as an independent politician, it is considered that the success came to her as a result of her sequential support for the policy of Ariel Sharon.
Over the period of her career, Livni's political views underwent significant changes. After becoming the Minister of Israeli the Government for the first time, she openly condemned the so-called Oslo agreements, which envisaged the creation of Palestinian National Autonomy. However, understanding that her future completely depends on Sharon's benevolence, she supported the plan of demarcation which caused anger of those protesting against the concessions to the Palestinians. Coming o Kadima Party, Livni strengthened her adherence to centrist positions and took a place in the so-called camp of peace.
Israel, Jerusalem, 1 September /corr. Trend R.Abdullayev / For several weeks, the war in South Ossetia extruded all other events, including Olympiad in Beijing, from the front pages of the world press, but could not "abolish" these events. Thus, in Israel the question on the agenda is who will gain the power, which literally fell out of the Primer Minister, Ehud Ulmert.
"I am proud of the fact that I am the citizen of the country, which holds investigation with regards to the Prime Minister. No one can be either above or out of the law. I will leave my post with honor and merit, and later I will prove my innocence," this ardent speech of 62 years old Prime Minister on the direct ether of the Israeli television stirred the entire country. Only the Primary at the ruling Kadima Party, which should take place on 17 September, can answer the question who will gain the power.
The Foreign Minister of Israel Tzipi Livni will easily win in the election for the new leader of ruling Kadima Party and will be able to replace Prime Minister Ehud Ulmert, the survey, carried out by the newspaper Maariv last Thursday showed. According to the results of survey, Livni obtained 49 percent of the voices of the members of ruling Kadima Party that strengthened its superiority over the nearest rival at the party - Minister of Transport Shaulem Mofaz. Mofaz obtained only 28 percent of the voices
The most probable candidate for the post of the Prime Minister of Israel, Tzipi Livni, worked as the Parisian agent Mossad - Israeli intelligence service - in the beginning of 1980. According to the evidence of the former employees, exactly at this time Mossad conducted a number of operations in the European capitals to annihilate Palestinian terrorists. It is reported that on 21 August 1983, when in Athens the employees of the special group of Mossad shot down the high-ranking official of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Mamun Mereysh, Livni was on battle duty.
A quarter of century later, 49 years old Livni pretends for the post of Prime Minister of Israel. Ehud Ulmert, who headed Israel for the last two and one-half years, is accused that he took bribes from the American businessman. In her interview, Livni repeatedly emphasized that she is not anybody's creature and her political weight is her personal merit. She says that policy for her is not the method of the advance of her persona, but "the method of the advance of her own views and persuasions".
According to her, she deals with the policy not in order to serve the interests of some person or group of people. Despite the fact that Livni calls herself as an independent politician, it is considered that the success came to her as a result of her sequential support for the policy of Ariel Sharon.
Over the period of her career, Livni's political views underwent significant changes. After becoming the Minister of Israeli the Government for the first time, she openly condemned the so-called Oslo agreements, which envisaged the creation of Palestinian National Autonomy. However, understanding that her future completely depends on Sharon's benevolence, she supported the plan of demarcation which caused anger of those protesting against the concessions to the Palestinians. Coming o Kadima Party, Livni strengthened her adherence to centrist positions and took a place in the so-called camp of peace.
Though almost all opinion polls show priorities in Livni's rating, the observers on party issues say that precisely Mofaz will win primaries. They have serious grounds for such forecast. The elections of party leader differ from common will. The important in this case is not arithmetic number of supporters, not the support of political program of one of the candidates, but the system of organization and every possible agreement between inter-party clans. Mofaz has more chances of "show much favour" for potential supporters of posts, as a result it will be easy to agree with him. Besides, the press reports that Livni will not be able to create new government coalition: party of religious sefadars (World Union of Sefadars) included in coalition at present, will quit it in case of victory in primaries by the Israeli foreign minister.
The key contender from Kadima party, sticking to more sharp views is the Minister of Transport Shaul Mofaz. Some analysts of oil sector accuse him of causing rise in the oil prices by his constant statements on the possible military strike on Iran's nuclear program. If Mofaz wins, it will take place thanks to the supporters of file and rank voters of Kadima party, but not speculators from oil market and owners of stocks of oil companies," Reuven Khazan, professor of political science of Jerusalem University said. This is not his sphere of activity.
In the forum of supporters in Jerusalem, Shaul Mofaz made planned statements. "I undertake to keep Israel unified and indivisible as a capital city of Israel forever," he said. He also stated that the security of Israel and its residents are his key priorities and pointed that the attempts to postpone decision necessary for providing security in a period of relative calm is suitable, but not dangerous. Like the leader of Avodi Ehud Barack who said it was necessary to elect experienced head of state, Shaul Mofaz reminded his 3,500 supporters about his rich experience as a head of army. Mofaz was head of the General Staff of defense army of Israel and minister of defense. "Experience in the sphere of security is not only advantage, but also a condition for head of Israeli government," Mofaz said.
Mofaz, native of Iran, believes that changes in Near East are too slow which takes decades. From his point of view, the peace will come when there is relevant condition and it is impossible to speed up this process by force. Mofaz is ready to offers peace in exchange of peace to Syria, an old answer of Likud to the Arab formula of "land in exchange of peace". He is not likely to make territorial concessions in Palestinian issue.
Mofaz, former Chief of the General Staff and the Defence Minister, is likely to be less zealous than Netanyahu to create peace conditions, but will be more active to prevent Iran from producing nuclear weapons. Mofaz, who heads the Israeli group which is engaged in a strategic dialogue with the United States, warned that Iran would become a military power by 2009 or 2010 and said that should the international community fail to stop the process, Israel would do that.
Thus, Kadima must make a difficult and crucial choice of a new leader of the country. According to surveys, Tsipi Livni is the only acting politician in the country who is able to compete with the leader of the parliamentary opposition Binyamin Netanyahu for the Prime Ministerial post. But first, he must win in his own party.
Direct prime minister elections in Israel have been cancelled. And all hopes remain only hopes without a large party possessing resources for successful campaign. The nation-wide popularity does not help in this case as well. The parties with successful and charismatic leaders but lacking a significant administrative resource easily overpass the electorate barrier, but never gather enough mandates to form a coalition. Eleven out of 29 Kadima MPs have announced their support to Foreign Minister's candidacy.
Should Livni win the elections within the party, she will replace Ehud Olmert in case of Kadima wins the elections and will become the second Prime Minister woman in the history of Israel after Golda Meir. Should Mofaz win the elections, he will be the first Prime Minister of Israel from Iran, who embodies responsibility and ability to take difficult crucial decisions. Which politician Kadima will chose to the prime minister position is a matter of time. Little time remains to wait.
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