Israel – Former prime minister Ehud Olmert lashed out at his foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, Tuesday, warning Israelis not to vote for her Tzipi Livni Party.
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Speaking at an event for Kadima mayors in Ramat Gan, Olmert sung the praises of current Kadima chairman Shaul Mofaz and mocked the Tzipi Livni Party’s slogan.
Former prime minister Ehud Olmert lashed out at his foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, Tuesday, warning Israelis not to vote for her Tzipi Livni Party.
Speaking at an event for Kadima mayors in Ramat Gan, Olmert sung the praises of current Kadima chairman Shaul Mofaz and mocked the Tzipi Livni Party’s slogan.
“I hear that the hope will vanquish the fear,” Olmert said. “That is indeed a nice slogan and I am not against slogans. But what is the practical content behind it? If there is anyone who has already proven that he knows how to defeat fear in the streets and provide security and hope to the citizens of Israel, it is the man who as IDF chief of staff commanded over Operation Defensive Shield and defeated the second Intifada.”
Olmert also did not spare criticism for Labor leader Shelly Yacimovich. He slammed the socioeconomic plan that Yacimovich unveiled last month and presented further Monday in a mock debate with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.
“Labor wants to add billions to the budget,” Olmert said. “Did they bother to find a source for funding that? This is populist, shoddy work. It displays a lack of credibility and a lack of experience.”
A Labor spokesman responded that Labor was the only party with a comprehensive, responsible, and serious socioeconomic plan. the spokesman made reference to the ongoing criminal investigations against Olmert and said he would be wise to remain silent.
“Olmert, in his present situation, would do himself a lot of good if he would refrain from interfering in this election,” the Labor spokesman said. “When Olmert was prime minister, social services were privatized, socioeconomic gaps widened, and the middle class was harmed.”
Olmert saved the bulk of his criticism for Netanyahu, who he said was incapable of making decisions and is unfit to remain prime minister. He said Netanyahu had claimed credit for achievements of Olmert’s government.
He urged voters to look at the list of candidates on the cusp of entering the Knesset in the polls before deciding what party to vote for in the January 22 election.
“Do you know who number 30 is in the Likud?” Olmert asked. “Do you know who is 15th in Labor? Or 10th on Livni’s list? I know who is first on Kadima’s list: A man who has brought a lot of benefit to the state, and that is why I felt compelled to stand beside him.”
Content is provided courtesy of the Jerusalem Post
Olmert probably wants to have the Halachic state, of which Livni is so frightened ….