Former MK Omri Sharon announced on Tuesday that he would throw his support behind Kadima Chairwoman Tzipi Livni and work on behalf of her campaign leading up to the party's primary election, scheduled for March 27. The decision by the son of former Prime Minister and Kadima founder Ariel Sharon drew criticism from politicians within Kadima and from other factions, who say the younger Sharon is the third convicted criminal to hold a senior position at Livni's election headquarters. In the past, Omri Sharon was considered well-connected among Kadima activists throughout the country. Some have surmised that his joining forces with Livni was meant not only to help her, but also to aid his brother Gilad in clinching a top spot on the Kadima party list for the next Knesset. "It is more than symbolic that Omri, as the son of the party's founder, is taking a moral stand and mobilizing to ensure our success," Livni said on Tuesday. In 2006, Omri Sharon was convicted of violating campaign finance laws, falsifying corporate documents and perjury. He was fined NIS 300,000 and sentenced to nine months in jail, but his term was later reduced to seven months. Edna Bekenstein, the judge who convicted Sharon, was recently selected by Kadima to head its central elections committee overseeing the primary process. In addition to Sharon, Livni also counts among her supporters Kadima Council Chairman Haim Ramon, who was convicted in 2007 of committing an indecent act after forcibly kissing a female soldier, and former Minister Tzachi Hanegbi, who was convicted in 2010 of perjury. MK Shaul Mofaz, Livni's main rival in the contest for the Kadima party leadership, on Tuesday criticized her, saying that joining forces with Omri Sharon provides additional proof that Kadima must change. "This is further proof that Kadima needs deep change and repair, and it needs to freshen its ranks so that it will be seen as a worthy alternative," Mofaz said. Moshe Mizrahi, the retired commander of the national police unit for serious and international crimes who recently said he would run for a Labor party seat in the next elections, also lambasted Livni over the decision to cooperate with Sharon. This is another example of political manipulation," Mizrahi said. "It is time for the public to open its eyes and see who really wants to lead them," he added, concluding with one word: "Shame."
Omri Sharon throws support behind Livni's primary run
The son of former Prime Minister and Kadima founder Ariel Sharon joins Kadima Chairwoman Tzipi Livni's campaign • Move draws criticism from people across the political spectrum who say it's proof Kadima needs deep change.
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