2012 Kadima leadership election

In November 2011, the three candidates opposed to Tzipi Livni in 2008 called for a primary to be held as soon as possible, citing the probability of Knesset elections soon. Livni said that candidates were welcome to bring up the issue at a party meeting. Livni said in an interview that she was not interested in politics. Prior opponent Avi Dichter responded that her statement was insulting to party members. Another Kadima MK called the remarks "the opposite of prime ministerial." Livni said that candidates were welcome to bring up the issue at a party meeting.{{cite news |url=http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=247209 |title=Livni rivals to push for Kadima primary |last=Hoffman |first=Gil |date=28 November 2011 |work=The Jerusalem Post |accessdate=19 January 2012}} However, at the meeting Livni maneuvered to delay the primary for several months.{{cite news |url=http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=247330 |title=Livni thwarts attempt at early Kadima primary |last=Hoffman |first=Gil |date=28 November 2011 |work=The Jerusalem Post|accessdate=19 January 2012}} Finally, on 19 January 2012, Livni set the primary date for 27 March 2012. A Haaretz article stated that the campaign will likely involve mudslinging and personal attacks that could further damage the party's standing.{{cite news |url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/livni-sets-kadima-primary-for-late-march-as-party-rivals-ramp-up-rhetoric-1.408060|title=Livni sets Kadima primary for late March as party rivals ramp up rhetoric|last=Bar-Zohar|first=Ophir|date=19 January 2012 |work=Haaretz |accessdate=19 January 2012}}

At a campaign rally, Livni was confident and said that Kadima under her leadership was best poised to defeat the incumbent Likud under Benjamin Netanyahu. Mofaz countered that Livni was weak and he would be better able to oppose Moshe Feiglin's influence in Knesset. Dichter said that Livni has harmed the party and a new leader is needed. An 18 January Maagar poll supported Livni's claim with Kadima winning four more seats under Livni than Mofaz. However, neither could take the party to victory. Former prime minister and Kadima leader Ehud Olmert declined to endorse any candidate.{{cite news |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/olmert-will-not-endorse-any-candidate-in-upcoming-kadima-primaries-1.408230|title=Olmert will not endorse any candidate in upcoming Kadima primaries |last=Bar-Zohar |first=Ophir |date=19 January 2012 |work=Haaretz |accessdate=21 February 2012}}

At a press conference, Mofaz said his first priority will be to ensure there is "one law for everyone". He lowered his criticism of his opponent and said he would offer her a position if he was prime minister. Citing his four decades of military service and participation in four wars, he said that he would "make the utmost effort to achieve peace with [Israel's] neighbors". He also said that non-participation in the military service was a growing problem and that Israel must reform its system of governance. Previously in support of unity, Mofaz declined to join a Netanyahu government. He was confident that he could change the course of Kadima and take it to victory.{{cite news |url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/mofaz-kicks-off-kadima-campaign-with-call-for-mideast-peace-deal-1.410088|title=Mofaz kicks off Kadima campaign with call for Mideast peace deal |last=Bar-Zohar |first=Ophir |date=31 January 2012 |work=Haaretz |accessdate=22 February 2012}}

Livni picked up the endorsements of 12 MKs and two party functionaries, while Mofaz received endorsements of 10 MKs. At meeting to support Mofaz, one MK said that Mofaz is "a new candidate who can bring new audiences" and compared him to new Labor Party leader Shelly Yachimovich, who gained the national polls once she had settled in as party leader. Both candidates have significant support, leading to some speculation that the party may split after the primary. However, Livni backers were confident that she will win and mocked the support for Mofaz as "[going] shopping". They also claimed that a vote for Mofaz is a vote for a split. Livni reiterated this claim in an interview with Haaretz and admitted mistakes with handling the party several years ago.{{cite news |url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/livni-kadima-will-collapse-if-mofaz-leads-party-1.413174|title=Livni: Kadima will collapse if Mofaz leads party |last=Weitz |first=Gidi |date=16 February 2012 |work=Haaretz |accessdate=22 February 2012}}

Mofaz supporters accused Livni of encouraging Bat Yam mayor Shlomo Lahiani to join the race in order to split the Sefardi vote. Livni denied the accusation. Lahiani said his family did not want him to run, but he wanted to change the priorities of Israel. He was confident that he could beat Mofaz and Livni, and even take Kadima to victory over Likud.{{cite news |url=http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=258048|title=Mofaz associates: Livni using Lahiani against him in race |last=Hoffman |first=Gil |date=16 February 2012 |work=The Jerusalem Post |accessdate=22 February 2012}} However, Lahiani ultimately decided not to run.{{cite news |url=http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=258671|title=Lahiani not joining Kadima leadership race |last=Harkov |first=Lahav |date=21 February 2012 |work=The Jerusalem Post |accessdate=22 February 2012}}

Originally rejecting calls for him to withdraw from the race, Dichter dropped out five days prior to the primary, and endorsed Mofaz.{{cite news |url=http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=263040 |title=Dichter quits Kadima race, joins Mofaz against Livni |last=Hoffman |first=Gil |date=22 March 2012 |work=The Jerusalem Post |accessdate=22 March 2012}}

;Declared

• Tzipi Livni, party leader
• Shaul Mofaz, former Chief of Staff of the IDF

;Declined or Withdrawn

• Avi Dichter, former Internal Security Minister
• Shlomo Lahiani, mayor of Bat Yam
• Meir Sheetrit, former Minister of the Interior

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{{hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#cff|title=List of Tzipi Livni endorsements|contentstyle=border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;}}

;Members of Knesset (12 of 28)

• Nino Abesadze{{cite news |url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/kadima-split-as-it-prepares-for-livni-mofaz-showdown-1.409064 |title=Kadima split as it prepares for Livni-Mofaz showdown |last=Bar-Zohar |first=Ophir |date=25 January 2012 |work=Haaretz |accessdate=21 February 2012}}
• Rachel Adatto
• Doron Avital
• Roni Bar-On
• Gideon Ezra
• Yoel Hasson
• Shlomo Molla
• Nachman Shai
• Marina Solodkin
• Robert Tiviaev
• Majalli Wahabi
• Orit Zuaretz

;Kadima leaders

• Tzachi Hanegbi, party affairs committee head and former Member of Knesset
• Haim Ramon, Kadima council chair and former Member of Knesset

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{{hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#cff|title=List of Shaul Mofaz endorsements|contentstyle=border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;}}

;Members of Knesset (11 of 28)

• Ruhama Avraham
• Aryeh Bibi
• Ze'ev Bielski
• Avi Dichter, withdrawn candidate
• Avi Duan
• Yisrael Hasson
• Shai Hermesh
• Yohanan Plesner (formerly for Livni)
• Ronit Tirosh
• Otniel Schneller
• Yulia Shamalov-Berkovich

{{hidden end}}

Polls closed at 22:00, but results were not in until 01:00 the next day. Mofaz defeated Livni 62.3% to 37.7%, but invited her to remain in the party in his victory speech. Livni called Mofaz to congratulate him and thanked her supporters in a concession speech.{{cite news |url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/154231 |title=Mofaz Wins Kadima Leadership |last=Benari |first=Elad |date=28 March 2012 |publisher=Arutz Sheva |accessdate=27 March 2012}}

Likud MK Ofir Akunis wished Mofaz a long career as opposition leader and said Kadima was "at the end of its journey". Fellow Likud MK Danny Danon criticized the "left-wing" views of Mofaz, such as his plan to return the borders of Israel to the Green Line. Meretz leader Zehava Gal-On also congratulated Mofaz, but said his victory proves Kadima is a "centre-right" party. Labor leader Shelly Yachimovich also congratulated Mofaz, said he was worthy of the job, and said Labor was the only true opposition party. United Torah Judaism MK Moshe Gafni blamed Livni's loss on her criticism of Haredi Jews, while National Union MK Michael Ben-Ari said Mofaz can credit his victory to Arab voters and that he was now indebted to them.{{cite news |url=http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=263806 |title=MKs congratulate Mofaz, predict Kadima's demise |last=Harkov |first=Lahav |date=28 March 2012 |work=The Jerusalem Post |accessdate=28 March 2012}}

• 2008 Kadima leadership election
• 2012 Likud leadership election

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{{Political party leadership elections in Israel}}

Kadima leadership

Category:February 2012 in Asia

2012

Kadima leadership election

Category:Tzipi Livni