Center - left block looking for a father. Maybe mother, too

Less than two weeks are left before the submission date for the Knesset elections, and it seems that the center - left block still is not sure of itself. As things stand now, dramatic changes may occur at the last minute.

Currently fighting on the block votes, are Labor (20 seats in the polls), Kadima (not passing the threshold in all polls) and Yair Lapid's 'Yesh Atid' (about 10 seats). However, on there are two other players on the scene who ae still undecided about their political future.

Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, previously announced his intention to return to political life, but has not yet elaborated in what political framework. Before the widely publicized press conference at 'Kadima' house (which exposed the campaign, 'Netanyahu will get us entangled'), Olmert considered his return to the party, but wanted to make the move along with Tzipi Livni, the former party chairwoman. But Livni insisted not to join. Her refusal to return to the party which threw her home in shame, is the basis of Olmert's indecision.

On the eve of the elections in the United States Olmert's associates implied that if Barack Obama wins, the former prime minister will announce his return to political life. But, even after Obama won, Olmert continued to hesitate, perhaps due to the State Attorney's appeal to the Supreme Court in cases in which he was evicted. Even Operation Pillar of Cloud delayed his announcement about the decision, either way.

Last weekend, shortly after the ceasefire, associates of Zipi Livni announced that she decided to run an independent party called "Chetz" – a shelf party established in 2006 - by Avraham Poraz, which is now owned by Haim Ramon. An announcement which she was supposed to give in an interview given to "Mishal Ham' program- was delayed, which, she said, was due to her reluctance to talk about politics so soon after the operation.

But her associates say that not only because of the operation she withdrew from the declaration. They said, "Livni is still not completely decided for herself." It seems that Olmert's indecision does not do good to her resolution capacity, that as it is, is not one of the major advantages, to put it mildly, of the former foreign minister. Some say that her inability to integrate into the political arena stands and will stand in her way, because in politics one should know how to make difficult decisions, as well as painful concessions – and especially to be flexible.

Yesterday about 20 key figures in 'Kadima', friends from all over the country, met with Ehud Olmert. They exerted a pressure roller on him, to return to the political arena and run. Olmert replied that he would do so only if and when the party is confident that it will run and win at least 25 seats and he will have a good chance to form a government - otherwise he would not run.

He said the 'unsuccessful' end of Operation 'Pillar of Cloud', internal surveys conducted show that he would take seats even from the Likud. Olmert also told that many of those disappointed with the Likud approach him, wishing that he would run. He also said that he was promised support from several mayors.

However, Olmert hinted that if and when he runs, he will do so only in the framework of Kadima. In his opinion, one has to preserve the legacy of Ariel Sharon, about whom he spoke during the meeting with nostalgia and longing. Olmert also praised Mofaz said that he did a lot in his life for the state as chief of staff and defense minister, but the media does not like him and performs, as he said, a character assassination.

If he is angry with Livni, her refusal and stubbornness not to join with him to Kadima, then it is expressed in the following words: "The one who destroyed Kadima is Tzipi Livni and not Shaul Mofaz."

It will be interesting to see what his steps would be, if Livni would indeed announce a run in an independent party.

Meanwhile, Livni continues to savor the courtship on behalf of center – left parties. Last night it was Yair Lapid who told that he offered her a second place in his party, including 'generous and respectable' suggestions. She refused, of course, and justly on her part: Polls released over the weekend gave her 10 seats, while she nibbles away at Lapid's party.

Avodah chairwoman Shelly Yachimovich, also offered Livni second place on the list and the role of "Foreign Minister ", as she indicated their possibility to cooperate fully, given the good relations prevailing between them.

In this case justice is with Yachimovich, for Livni's run will not bite at 'Avodah', and leaves it the largest party in the opposition of HaLikud-Beiteinu.

Tomorrow Livni and Olmert will take off for the United States, to participate in the prestigious Saban Forum. It will be interesting to see if they can finally hold their meeting - a meeting originally planned for Sunday, and was delayed over and over again.
Even more intere
sting will be to see whether Olmert could persuade her to join him together to a center-left block, under the mantle of Kadima. According to associates, chances are nil.

Will Livni again make the error of her political life and run at the head of an independent party, which would not help the center – left block and will not constitute an alternative to Netanyahu?

According to her Kadima supporters (there are still a few of them: Yoel Hasson, Shlomo Molla, Robert Tibiib, Magli Vahaba and there are those who say that Rachel Adato too, Orit Zuaretz and Meir Shitrit), she talks with them only about the possibility of running an independent party. "If she would do this, many of the members will rush to join it," they say.

One of them said that Livni intends to position her party as a security alternative to Netanyahu as well. Inter alia, she also talks with Major General Amram Mitzna, former mayor of Haifa and Labor chairman, to join her party. Other names which came up were retired Brigadier Prof. Yitzchak Ben-Israel, former CEO of Teva, Major General Shlomo Yanai, and Brigadier General Israela Oron.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!