By Xinhua,
Jerusalem : Israeli Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz on Tuesday formally announced his bid to replace Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as leader of the ruling Kadima party.
Highlighting his defense credentials, the former defense minister said that security experience is an essential condition for any Israeli prime minister.
Local daily The Jerusalem Post said that with such remarks, Mofaz took a stab at the lack of security experience of his chief rival in Kadima, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.
“Security must be at the top of our priority list, and therefore experience, understanding and expertise in matters of security are not only an essential advantage but also a sine qua non for any Israeli prime minister,” he was quoted as telling a crowd of his supporters.
Mofaz, who has repeatedly stressed Iran’s nuclear threat and the military option to solve the controversial issue, also pledged to keep Jerusalem “unified as the eternal capital of Israel,” local daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported on its web site.
The status of the holy city is one of the key issues in the peace talks between the Jewish state and the Palestinians. Israel captured east Jerusalem in 1967 and later annexed it, while the Palestinians demand that the sector of the holy city be the capital of their state.
Olmert has announced that he would not compete in Kadima’s primary elections in September, and would resign the premiership as soon as a new party leader was chosen.
Besides Livni, Mofaz will also face competition from Public Security Minister Avi Dichter and Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit.