Mofaz comes back, caves in to Livni

Twenty-four days after he announced that he was taking a break from politics, Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz returned to Kadima on Sunday night and surrendered to party leader Tzipi Livni.

Mofaz told his loyalists over the last few days that he would stand up for them and question the results of the September 17 race that he lost by 430 votes in his speech at Sunday's Kadima council meeting at the party's Petah Tikva headquarters. But instead he delivered a speech that was conciliatory and stressed the need for party unity.

"We cannot afford to play games of power," Mofaz said. "No one can justify continuing to fight amongst ourselves. We must unite our ranks for the challenges of the coming year. No one has the right to risk the limited trust we have received from the public."

Reaching out to Livni, who was seated near him on stage, he told her that he would help her in any way she needed. He said that they both had a responsibility to set aside their personal interest and unite the party.

Mofaz's associates said he had not received any promises of portfolios in return for his capitulation, nor had he received threats from Livni of political punishments if he continued to flex his political muscles. They said that despite his appeasement, he would still insist on his camp in Kadima being rewarded according to its strength.

"I couldn't ignore the anti-democratic actions taken that decided the race in a way that was set in advance," Mofaz said in his only statement expressing independence. "At least half of the voters picked the path that my friends and I represented. When they counted the votes, I couldn't close my eyes. I did the human thing and gave my family a break to consider my future." Mofaz ended speculation that he might quit the Knesset and end his political career, which he raised in his speech the day after the primary when he announced that he was taking a time out.

"I have never been a businessman," Mofaz said. "Going into business was never really an option for me. Public service is natural for me. That's where I have been, and that's where I will stay."

Livni welcomed Mofaz's conciliation and pledged to unite the party.

She said she would not allow there to be any political camps inside Kadima.

"Uniting the ranks in Kadima is something we should all work for," Livni said. "That's what I intend to do by reaching out, both to my supporters and the people who ran against me."