Transportation and Road Safety Minister Shaul Mofaz, who announced Saturday night that he was not leaving politics, told a meeting of the Kadima party governing committee Sunday night "My place is in public service. It's where I've always been happiest and where I will stay." Following a narrow loss to Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni in last month's race for leadership of Kadima, Mofaz had said he was taking a break from politics and that he would not continue as a minister in the new government that Livni is trying to build.

On Sunday night he said, "After much deliberation, I have come to the conclusion that this is the place from which I can continue to contribute." He received thunderous applause when he said, "as one with a central role in the movement, I will help as much as I am asked."