The Disengagement was painful, but there is no doubt that it brought Israel security. It was a very important strategic process. Hundreds of lives, maybe more, were saved during the period in which there were no settlements in Gaza. We also gave the IDF freedom to maneuver. Imagine that there were thousands of Israelis living in Gaza during the current reality. The response would be different, and the price would be exponentially higher.

  -- MK Shaul Mofaz (Kadima)

The most amazing, or astounding, thing about what Shaul Mofaz said today is not that he is clearly delusional - since the Disengagement we have had two wars with Gaza along with thousands of missiles, a kidnapping from Gaza, a few other terrorist attacks and more and that he could say this with a straight face - is that he is still involved in politics and is around. I dont think I have heard from Shaul Mofaz since the formation of the government over a year ago! Has he done anything? Is he still relevant?

In the previous elections I was the sole alternative for Prime Minister, and I have no doubt that I have remained the sole alternative. Forgoing the ego, even if just temporarily, and going in a partnership to bring about change is my true objective on the way to the office of Prime Minister... Yes, it is just a matter of time... In the meantime I am preparing for the position of Prime Minister. I am the only one who is appropriate for the position.

  -- MK Shaul Mofaz

Shaul Mofaz Talking About Respecting Torah Values But Needing To Serve In The Army



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When Tzippi Livni was defeated by Shaul Mofaz in the Kadima primary on Tuesday, the first reaction publicized was that of UTJ MK Moshe Gafni, along with Yisroel Eichler. Gafni said that the Kadima voters rejected Livni's anti-haredi rhetoric.

In a Ynet article about haredim gloating over Livni's loss, a UTJ "source" explained that "it isn't gloating or hitting someone when they're down, it is sending a message with a lesson to every rookie politician who adopts a dialogue of hate against the haredi public – it isn't worth your while. It may make a great media slogan, but the public does not accept it, and yesterday, Kadima voters proved they don't either.


"The Shinui party had a single anti-haredi agenda and went from 15 mandates to complete collapse and disappeared completely – parties that follow that path will share the same fate," he said. "Mofaz won't be voting for United torah Judaism, he won't be joining the Council of Torah Sages, but his agenda is different and more mature. He chose a different approach and attitude."

I am not going to defend Tzippi Livni. I am happy she lost, as I did not like her style of politics. I dont think Shaul Mofaz is going anywhere either, which is why I consider the Kadima primary to have been fairly insignificant. I would point out that any such gloating is a bit premature. I am fairly confident that even if Tzippi Livni is anti-haredi, which I am not sure is true, the Kadima voters rejected her for a combination of reasons and issues about her that they did not agree with. Boiling it down to one idea is probably an extreme oversimplification and does not so anybody justice. I am sure that most people were not even thinking about her stance regarding haredim when they made their decision for whom  to vote.

Gafni's statement is, again, indicative of a trend to attack anybody who opposes the UTJ agenda as being anti-haredi. I am not sure the two go hand in hand. Somebody can not agree with UTJ and still not hate haredim.

I also think UTJ, if Gafni's statement is any indication of what they think of Mofaz in relation to what they thought of Livni, is fooling itself f they think Livni was anti and Mofaz will be pro. Again, aligning votes for or against UTJ does not indicate anti-haredi sentiments or pro-haredi sentiments. It simply indicates what they party believes should be done on a specific issue for, hopefully, the good of the country.

However, thinking Livni was anti and Mofaz is pro is ignoring the fact that Shaul Mofaz opposed the Tal Law, which UTJ now considers as a sign of being anti-haredi. As well, one of the first things said by Shaul Mofaz after his electoral victory was that he will lead the social justice battle this coming summer. One of the major parts of the social justice protests has been equality of serving in the army, i.e. that haredim should be drafted into the army.

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The best part of Shaul Mofaz's defeat of Tzippi Livni in the Kadima primary yesterday was the official response of the Likud Party. The Likud Party's published response said "We wish Mofaz many years as head of the Opposition.."

The only problem with it is that it is a bit insulting to Sheli Yachimovitch and the Labor Party....

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I don't want to change anybody, just as I do not want anyone to change me. I accept the basic concept that you don't argue with with someone's faith. Haredi Judaism has existed for 2000 years and there is no chance, nor do I want, that it will now disappear. Even if the campaign against ti is the most successful of campaigns.

--- MK Shaul Mofaz (Kadima) writing an opinion piece in Maariv against the recent anti-Haredi campaign in the media and among politicians, and against Kadima (specifically Livni) taking anti-haredi positions.

Very interestingly, Kadima is finally taking a stand on something. This proposed law of allowing Israeli expats to vote absentee has upset Tzipi Livni and others in Kadima and has given them something to oppose the government on, despite their lack of any serious opposition until now.

Livni has been getting former generals to sign and speak out that they oppose allowing expats to vote, as only people who feel their future is in Israel should be allowed to. I am not sure why they went with generals as their tactic. It would seem more appropriate for them to have asked "men of spirit" - poets, academics, intellectuals, writers, artists, etc. to oppose this. This is not a security issue, rather more of a philosophical issue.

I have not heard Shaul Mofaz yet express an opinion on the matter, and I wonder why. I wonder if he is not saying anything because he is still looking to join the Likud. And now, according to news reports, activists in kadima have given Mofaz an ultimatum - that if he does not join the coalition by the end of February, they will en masse leave Kadima and join the Likud on their own.

I wonder if he is not speaking out on the expat law so as not to hurt his chances, by upsetting Bibi, of joining the Likud in the near future. While a Likudnik can speak out against Bibi's policy (like Benny Begin publicly opposed the expat law), it might be uncomfortable and inappropriate for someone from another party to oppose it and then to join the party.

This has got to be the funniest article (not including humor columns) I can remember reading in a semi-serious paper in a long time....