Mofaz "takes a break" from politics

After the election of former Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni as the interim Prime Minister of Israel, Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz, who ran against her for Prime Minister, has announced that he is stepping from his position.

Shaul Mofaz

Mofaz has been one of the most outspoken proponents of Israel's military occupation of Palestinian land, and of the expansion of Israeli settlements.

 

He did not publicly blame Livni, but the campaign he ran against her was largely negative, and his advisors have told the media that he criticized Livni privately.  He also told confidants that he was hurt by the tenor of Livni's campaign against him, in which he says he was portrayed as "a political wheeler dealer, a stupid, depraved man" during the campaign.

 

Mofaz was scheduled to meet with Livni on Friday to assist her with the formation of a coalition government, but cancelled the meeting in advance of his public announcement that he was stepping down.

 

"I will remain a Kadima member and will do everything I can to help", said Mofaz in a press conference, adding, "I have no complaints against anyone - not even those who didn't vote for me.  I have nothing against the ministers and MKs [Members of the Knesset - the Israeli Parliament] who supported other candidates, or against the system or the general atmosphere, the media, the pollsters - everyone followed their own agenda."