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Commentary;
As Shaul Mofaz gears up to contest for the Prime Ministership, a job he is wholly unqualified for, but which he may just fall into by virtue of the Shas party’s undying love of “Almighty Cash,” Israel National News’ Hillel Fendel remembers Mofaz’s totally undignified and laughable departure from Likud within days before Sharon’s strokes and resultant incapcitation and vegetation, which proved out to be no blessing for him (Mofaz).
So too, this blog recalls here and here Mofaz’s dead-of-the-night jump to Kadima in December, 2005, even as he sent an appeal letter to Likud voters to support him in their primary while having one foot out of the Likud door. MB
Analysis: Mofaz Is Preparing for Prime Ministerial Race, by Hillel Fendel (Israel National News)
Excerpts;
Transportation Minister Sha’ul Mofaz, remembered for insisting that he had no plans to leave the Likud just two days before he joined Kadima, is making no secret of his desire to become Prime Minister.
Headlines in the Israeli media over the past three days read as follows: “Mofaz Sharply Attacks Livni,” “Mofaz Attacks Barak for Gaza Policy,” “Likud Activists Will Support Mofaz,” “Mofaz Works With Shas to Prevent New Elections,” and the like.
Mofaz is hoping to be chosen in Kadima primaries to succeed criminal investigation-beleaguered Ehud Olmert, without the need for new national elections. The Shas Party, however, has been threatening to bring down the government and cause new elections – on the backdrop of its demand for higher monthly child allowance payments. Shas has said it would support any candidate who promises to raise the allowances – and Mofaz has reportedly made this promise.
Mofaz’s main competitor in the race for Kadima party leadership and the Prime Ministership is Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. Livni currently enjoys a significant lead over Mofaz among the 60,000 registered Kadima members. A joint Yediot Acharonot/Dachaf poll conducted late last week shows that 39% of the members would vote for Livni, while only 25% would choose Mofaz.
The Mofaz Zig-Zag
In December 2005, just hours after he called upon Likud leader Binyamin Netanyahu to “join me in liquidating [a rival camp within] the Likud,” and while a mass-mailing was underway asking Likud members to support his bid to lead the party, he phoned then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and informed him that he was leaving the Likud and joining Sharon’s new Kadima party.Just days earlier, he had criticized Kadima for the lack of unity displayed by the members’ various opinions, and said that the politicians who switch from party to party “show a lack of stability and a lack of leadership.”