One year ago today, the new Kadima party won 29 Knesset seats, and the Likud party was pronounced dead after disintegrating from 40 to 12 mandates. Kadima leader Ehud Olmert campaigned on a platform of ending the conflict with the Palestinian Authority (PA) by demolishing dozens of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, similar to the expulsions in the Gaza and northern Gaza area al most two years ago.
However, recent polls show that less than three percent of the people trust Prime Minister Olmert, and two-thirds want him to resign, with a majority favoring new elections. Likud and Kadima would exchange rankings in the terms of the number of Knesset seats if elections were held today, the surveys show.
Failures in the war against Hizbullah and mounting allegations of corruption involving Prime Minister Olmert and other party members have severely damaged his image.
If Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni were to lead Kadima, the party would fare much better, according to the polls. However, Likud chairman Binyamin (Bibi) Netanyahu has made overtures to former Likud members, including the Foreign Minister, who switched to Kadima. Her brother Eli said he is sorry he joined the move to Kadima and that he is returning to Likud.
However, recent polls show that less than three percent of the people trust Prime Minister Olmert, and two-thirds want him to resign, with a majority favoring new elections. Likud and Kadima would exchange rankings in the terms of the number of Knesset seats if elections were held today, the surveys show.
Failures in the war against Hizbullah and mounting allegations of corruption involving Prime Minister Olmert and other party members have severely damaged his image.
If Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni were to lead Kadima, the party would fare much better, according to the polls. However, Likud chairman Binyamin (Bibi) Netanyahu has made overtures to former Likud members, including the Foreign Minister, who switched to Kadima. Her brother Eli said he is sorry he joined the move to Kadima and that he is returning to Likud.