“Whoever lacks understanding and experience in security, cannot serve as prime minister," Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz, one of the leading candidates for the Kadima
party chairmanship, said in reference to his main rival, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.
Speaking at a conference of Druze activists that took place in Daliyat al-Carmel Saturday evening, Mofaz said, “I hear what my colleagues are saying and I want to tell you that both of them are right. Livni is right that (Defense Minister Ehud) Barak
failed as prime minister and now he is failing as party head.
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Labor chairman continues to slam contenders in ruling party's primary elections, says 'with all the challenges Israel is facing and the decisions which must be made, Kadima would have failed to even set a date for primaries without our interference' |
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"But Barak is also right. He knows that whoever lacks understanding and experience in security cannot be prime minister,” said Mofaz.
“We have already done enough experiments on this issue. We paid a heavy price and we don’t have the privilege of conducting another experiment.
Mofaz added that "Kadima members know that we will continue to lead the country and strive to attain peace,” added Mofaz.
“Kadima members know that in order to ensure the security and future of Israel, we need a powerful leadership. A leadership that will know how to navigate with decision-making experience, even when things are difficult," he said.
“In the sea of security and social challenges that stand before us, there is no room for interns, experience is needed. Israel’s security is a very serious issue that calls for serious people and serious decisions,” said the minister.
A Labor party official responded to Mofaz’s comments regarding Barak’s failure as prime minister and said, “Mofaz was chief of staff and defense minister in the six years prior to the Second Lebanon War, and holds most of the responsibility for the IDF’s lack of preparation in the war.
“He failed in that he did not clarify the reality to the government on the eve of the war and participated in a large part of the failed decisions in the campaign.”
About two weeks ago Barak said, "I am not convinced that the foreign minister, with her current background, is necessarily built to provide answers to important security issues and the types of issues that Israeli prime ministers often have to provide answers to.”
Barak added that Kadima is a “refugee camp” that is mostly responsible for embarrassing affairs. In reaction, Livni criticized Barak’s involvement in Kadima’ internal processes.
“Kadima is at a tipping point regarding its future. Kadima members need to take responsibility for the decisions. Different political elements...have other interests. Involvement, like that of Barak, is not acceptable in my opinion, and is clear regarding its motives.”
Mofaz did not sit idly in light of the quarrelling between Livni and Barak and defended the foreign minister.
“The attack on Livni’s incapacity, turned into a personal attack - and that’s not right. Today, the political confrontational threshold increased a notch. Barak has the right to voice his opinion on who he likes and who he values," he said.
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