On the first day as Kadima leader, Tzipi Livni received a stunning blow from Shaul Mofaz, transportation minister and her main rival in the primary, as he announced temporary withdrawal from politics on Thursday evening.

Mofaz decided not to continue and seek a position in the new government but remains a member of Kadima.

The announcement means that the former Israel Defense Force chief of staff, would be a normal citizen with no political power. As for Kadima, his resignation means the party lost a most prominent representative of eastern-born Jews as well as a member most identified with security.

The local newspaper Ha'aretz commented on Mofaz's quittance as a indication that "Kadima divided after Livni's victory".

Without doubt, Livni was shocked by the sudden change as she planned on Thursday morning to meet Mofaz and the latter has already recognized her victory in the race.

Livni's aides said she tried to reach Mofaz to persuade him to reconsider, but he refused to meet with her.

Mofaz's backing off overshadowed Livni's process to form a new coalition after primary. Uncertainties and challenges lie ahead for the newly elected Kadima leader on her way to assume the role of prime minister.

Livni's efforts to forge coalition

There are utmost 42 days left for Livni to form a new government after she won the primary. If a coalition is not formed by her or any other Kadima leader, a general elections will be held.

In case of general elections, the winning party will start the cabinet-making efforts all over again.

In such a scenario, the Likud Party led by opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu, is most likely to defeat other parties, including Livni-led Kadima and Barak-led Labor, and win early general elections, as indicated by previous poll results.

Therefore, she has to close ranks within the Kadima party while trying to retain the current four-party coalition, which include the Labor and the Pensioners as well as the ultra-Orthodox Shas party besides her own Kadima.

With the first two coalition partner parties less likely to budge, the stance of Shas, which threatened not to join a Livni-led government if the future of Jerusalem is discussed and asked for more welfare spending from the Treasury, becomes crucial in the making of a coalition.

Hours after the victory, Livni began her efforts to form a new government and become prime minister by arranging meeting with the three rivals inside Kadima, Shaul Mofaz, Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit and Public Security Minister Avi Dichter, to discuss the upcoming new government issue.

Upon hearing the primary results, Sheetrit declared that Kadima should form a coalition without giving in to the ultra-Orthodox demands and Kadima's existence is in danger if Livni fails.

Earlier Thursday, Livni phoned Labor chair Ehud Barak to discuss possible cooperation between the two parties in the future.It is estimated that in light of Labor's poor standings among voters, it is likely to stay in the government to avoid early elections.

The Shas officials expressed doubt that Livni could build a new government, saying she would be caught between her desires to form a coalition and to avoid looking like she gave into the blackmail of coalition horse-trading.

Thus Livni invited Eli Yishai, the Chairman of Shas, to her home in north Tel Aviv where they discussed possible political scenarios following the expected resignation of President Ehud Olmert, during which she warned that she could form a coalition without his party.

Oppositioin leader calls for general elections

Binyamin Netanyahu, Israeli opposition leader and Likud chairman, on Thursday evening urged the country to hold general elections, saying that the Kadima government has failed in security, economy and education in recent two and a half years.

"The only way to stop the deteriorating situation is to enable the people of Israel to elect a new government," said Netanyahu.

He added that "we need people of Israel to determine who will be Israeli prime minister, not Kadima party members."

The opposition chairman said his party could "restore security,boost the education system and stabilize economy," and Israel could be put on the track to success.

He had called on Livni to coordinate a date for general elections as soon as possible and intended to approach Barak, Yishai and other factions' leaders on the subject.

Other parliament members also expressed support for general elections after Livni won the Kadima party primary by a narrow margin of 431 votes, or 1.1 percent of the vote.

"I estimate we are on our way to general elections and I believe the next government will be right-wing. I just hope it happens fast," Uri Ariel, a member from National Union-NRP, was quoted by the Jerusalem Post as saying.

"The public needs to understand that this government mainly gives up Israel's territory. We need a responsible leadership," Ariel said.

Reuven Rivlin, a parliament member from Likud, said that "we have no choice but to go to general elections."

Livni is generally considered more left-wing. She has been leading the Israeli team in negotiations with the Palestinians, and has also expressed her resolve to continue with the talks.

(Xinhua News Agency September 19, 2008)