Kadima chairwoman Tzipi Livni is expected to soon announce the date for party primaries as inter-faction tensions mount and a party schism looks increasingly possible. During an interview several weeks ago, Livni, who is increasingly at odds with the party's second in command, Shaul Mofaz, hinted that if she loses the election, she will leave the party. She also said that she is sick of politics. Party officials took her words as a sort of preparation for her withdrawal notice, and concerns over a party split only further mounted when she refused to heed a request from Mofaz to pledge to stay in the party, even if she loses. Suspicions have continued to fester, as Kadima officials report that preparations for a split have already begun, possibly by those who identify with Livni. Chairman of the Kadima council and former vice premier, Haim Ramon, is said to be leading some of the talks on a potential split. Some people affiliated with the Mofaz camp have also discussed the possibility of a split, though Mofaz is said to have completely ruled out the possibility. The party elections were initiated this time by MK Meir Sheetrit, who has met with a number of the party's MKs over the past few weeks, trying to convince them to split the Kadima party. His efforts were in vain, especially in light of the expected announcement of party election primaries. Meanwhile, journalist and television anchor Yair Lapid, who announced his entrance into politics last week, performed over the weekend in a concert entitled "It's not final" at the Tzavta Club with rock stars Rami Kleinstein and Tamir Harpaz. While on stage, Lapid referenced his entrance into politics. "Actually, we are the crushed generation. Our parents built the country and we pay the bills on it all the time," Lapid said. Referencing an incident in the Knesset last week when one MK poured water on another, Lapid added, "Anastassia [Michaeli] pours water on [Raleb] Majadale. It's all part of the skit. And you look and say: Where is the responsible adult to come along and tell the children to get organized? It turns out that it's us. Not me; you and me. We are the responsible adults in charge. If something is wrong and we don't fix it, then it simply won't get fixed."
Kadima fears primaries will lead to party's division
Tensions leading up to Livni's announcement about a date for the party primary elections • Yair Lapid appears at rock concert over the weekend, says "Our parents built the country and we pay the bills on it all the time."
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