Six Kadima MKs have promised to join the new Hatnuah party that was announced by Tzipi Livni on Tuesday. These MKs are searching for a seventh Kadima MK to join them so they can submit a request to the Knesset House Committee to officially split from Kadima and be recognized as a new faction. By law, seven MKs are needed for an existing party to be split and a new party to be recognized. Livni led Kadima for three years before being ousted by Shaul Mofaz in an internal party primary this past March. The six Kadima MKs who have already pledged to become part of Livni's new party are Yoel Hasson, Shlomo Molla, Rachel Adato, Orit Zuaretz, Majallie Whbee and Robert Tiviaev. Kadima MK Doron Avital, who was originally supposed to be part of this group, was persuaded by Mofaz not to go with Livni. "Soon, we will add another MK to the list and we will forward the application to the house committee," Molla said. If the split is officially recognized, the new party will receive around 9 million shekels in funding, as well as more campaign advertising time on television and radio stations. Meanwhile, Channel 2 reported that former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is expected to announce on Wednesday whether he will return to politics. Both Olmert and Livni are set to fly to the U.S. later this week to participate in the Saban Forum in Washington. Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman will also attend the forum.
Six Kadima MKs pledge to join Livni's new party
Six Kadima MKs intend to join Tzipi Livni's Hatnuah party • The group needs a seventh Kadima MK to join them for the split to be recognized by the Knesset • Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is expected to announce his political future on Wednesday, Channel 2 reports.
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