Taking over opposition, Mofaz calls Kadima the 'alternate government'

Newly crowned head of largest party promises not to join Likud-led coalition

Just-elected Kadima party chairman Shaul Mofaz addressed his party for the first time as the head of the opposition Monday morning, promising that Kadima would become a real alternative to the Netanyahu government.

“There will be no negotiations to enter the government,” he promised. “We are the alternative government.”

However, he said, he would not blindly oppose every measure by the government.

“When [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu does something correctly, we will support him, and what he does not do correctly, we will oppose him and be there to replace him.”

MK Tzipi Livni, whom Mofaz defeated in leadership elections last week, did not take part in the meeting.

Many of those from the Knesset’s largest party who did attend praised their new leader, with MK Eli Aflalo saying Mofaz would soon take the place of Netanyahu.

During the meeting, Mofaz, flanked by MKs Ronit Tirosh and Dalia Itzik, appeared tired but determined.

In an email sent to his supporters after his election victory, Mofaz set out his agenda for the Kadima party.

“This spring festival symbolizes, in many ways, the renewal and unity of the Kadima movement… Kadima will position itself at the forefront of the hope camp and will be a centrist, socially oriented party with a nonpartisan agenda,” he wrote, referring to the upcoming holiday of Passover.

Mofaz, 63, a former Likud defense minister and IDF chief of General Staff, defeated Livni in the Kadima party elections on Tuesday with 61.7 percent of the vote to Livni’s 37.2 percent.

Mofaz did not refer to Livni in his remarks on Monday, but Kadima member Meir Sheetrit called for her to return to Kadima.

“There is a place for her to continue to contribute to the country; it is it not good for her to stay home,” he said.

After his victory, Mofaz made it clear that he would seek to unify his party with the aim of ousting Netanyahu. Kadima under Livni won 28 seats in the 2009 elections but has been limping in recent polls, while the Likud, which won 27 seats, has been faring better.