Barak: Kadima heads incapable of making decisions

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'

Attila Somfalvi |Last update: 08.15.08 , 13:24

Defense Minister Ehud Barak continued Friday to slam the Kadima party. In a Labor assembly held at the party's headquarters in Tel Aviv, Chairman Barak once again referred to Israel's ruling party as a "refugee camp," accusing its leaders of being incapable of reaching decisions and of making the wrong decisions during the Second Lebanon War.

According to Barak, "With all the challenges the State of Israel is facing and the decisions which must be made, Kadima contenders would have failed to even set primaries in their party without the Labor Party's interference."

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The defense minister told his party members that he was the one fit to lead Israel. "We are in need of devoted leadership. No marketing gimmick will manage to blur the need for such experienced leadership. You know that I possess this."

He went on to compare his party to Kadima, saying that the real difference between Labor and the ruling party must be discussesd. "Our experience cannot be compared to that of Kadima, which is destined to become a temporary party."

According to Barak, "What the public needs is the establishment of a national emergency government."

Minister Ami Ayalon who was scheduled to attack Barak's conduct during the assembly decided not to speak due to a commotion which erupted in regards to internal party issues.

On Thursday, Ayalon said that "in order to lead and be relevant, the Labor Party must present the public with its way to deal with the serious dilemmas the State of Israel is facing, rather than focus on personal attacks."

Livni: We'll win twice

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on Friday met with ministers and Knesset members who endorsed her in her bid for Kadima chairperson, and told them that the party's primary elections were about "Kadima's image and Kadima's future, and later on – Israel's future."

According to the foreign minister, "We must prove that we are a level-headed and worthy leadership. We want to return Kadima to what it should have been without ignoring the fact that we have been given a second chance to do so. Today we have the opportunity to realize the dream we had when we established Kadima."

Livni with her supporters (Photo: Yaron Brener)

Addressing her party's advantages, Livni expressed her confidence in her ability to win both the primary elections and the general Knesset elections.

"Kadima represents the broadest common denominator, in various fields. I am certain that if each of Kadima's members votes according to what is best for Israel, we will win these elections as well as the general elections. We are going to win twice," she said.

Barak and Livni exchanged over the past week. In response to Livni's remarks on the Labor chairman's interference in Kadima's internal issues, Barak told Army Radio that "I'm not convinced that when it comes to important security issues…the foreign minister has what it takes to provide answers."

Aides to Minister Ayalon noted that he believes Barak is leading the party to a dead end and into "dangerous alleys" which should be avoided. According to the associates, Ayalon was displeased with Barak's interference in the Kadima primaries and with his remarks against Livni.