Ariel Sharon's inner circle joins Livni camp ahead of Kadima race

[bemildred]

The advisers who comprised former prime minister Ariel Sharon's inner circle have now joined the camp of Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni as she prepares to vy for the premiership in the upcoming Kadima Party primary, scheduled for September.

Under the guidance of her new set of advisers, Eyal Arad, Reuven Adler and attorney Yoram Rabad, also known as the "ranch forum" - a reference to Sharon's ranch where the group used to meet, Livni agreed to be interviewed on Army Radio on Tuesday, and delcared her determination to win the Kadima primary, and head the party.

"If the prime minister runs in the primary, I'll beat him, too," Livni said in the interview, adding: "It seems unlikely that he will be a candidate, but that is his decision to make. I have already made mine." Until recently, Livni had largely shied away from the media and made only few public appearances.

The foreign minister went on to say that the Israeli public had the right to question whether the candidate it elects is worthy of being prime minister. "I am ready to be judged not only on what I say, but also on what I have done," she said.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1006616.html

[bemildred]

1. Kadima sets Olmert deadline

Israel's ruling Kadima party is to hold a leadership election on September 17, which could replace Ehud Olmert, the country's prime minister.

The vote to choose a party leader has been prompted by a police investigation that could force Olmert from office and disrupt peace talks with the Palestinians and Syria.

Several senior Kadima members, including Tzipi Livni, the foreign minister, have openly called for the prime minister to step down over allegations of financial irregularities.

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Olmert had agreed with Israel's Labour party, with which Kadima form a coalition, to hold the internal election in September to try to keep the alliance together after the police investigation.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2008/07/2008729191145506443.html

[bemildred]

2. Poll: Livni-led Kadima edges out Likud if elections held today

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni would lead Kadima to victory over Likud if elections were held today, according to a special poll conducted by Dialog on Thursday on behalf of Haaretz.

The results of the poll are expected to have a dramatic effect on Livni's standing inside Kadima and on her race with Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz for the party's leadership.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1007688.html

[LeftishBrit]

3. First bit of slightly encouraging news that I've heard about Israeli politics in ages!