MK Avi Dichter (Kadima), the former cabinet minister and head of the Israel Security Agency, formally announced his candidacy for the Kadima party chairmanship Sunday, vowing to have the party join the coalition if elected. In his announcement, Dichter said that if elected in the March 27 primary, Kadima would change course by abandoning the opposition benches it had occupied for almost three years. I vow to have Kadima enter the government at once so as to allow the Israeli government to overcome the impasse it is currently at. Israel needs Kadima inside the coalition, now, Dichter said. Dichter, who launched a failed bid for the same job in 2008, has been touted as a likely contender for some time. He has been one of the harshest and most vocal critics of incumbent Kadima leader MK Tzipi Livni. Livnis arch-rival, former Defense Minister MK Shaul Mofaz, also announced his candidacy on Jan. 31, just over three years after narrowly losing to Livni. He has so far been Livnis greatest threat, as he has secured the support of several key Kadima MKs and party big wigs, including some of the chairwomans erstwhile allies. Livni is banking on Kadima members eventually re-electing her as she has so far polled better than Mofaz among general election voters. Her slogan for the primary contest has been, We will win only with Tzipi Livni. Until recently Mofaz and Dichter did not have enough of a backing within the party to force Livni to call early primaries. But with a groundswell of internal dissent -- and with the country abuzz about a possible march toward early elections -- Livni eventually acquiesced several weeks ago. Meanwhile, at a campaign event comprising hundreds of supporters Sunday, including several MKs, Mofaz said he would follow in [former Kadima Prime Minister] Ariel Sharons footsteps. He told the gatherers that once the primaries are over we will unite and embark on a new journey.
