M. Eitan
M. EitanIsrael News Photo: (Flash 90)

While Kadima members claim to have won "one-third of the mayoral elections," Likud MK Michael Eitan says that many of the winning candidates were actually unaffiliated, and "many were ashamed of their Kadima connections."

Cabinet Ministers Chaim Ramon and Avi Dichter, both leading Kadima members, boasted after the elections about Kadima's electoral achievements.  Dichter said, "For our first time running in city elections, to win in a third of the cities is not bad."  Ramon said, "We have nearly 50 mayors who ran on behalf of Kadima, and this is a good foundation for our party."

However, others don't see it quite that way.  Outspoken Likud MK Michael Eitan made sure to present the other side in an interview on Voice of Israel Radio.

"Kadima has all but collapsed," Eitan said. "In the 20 largest cities, Kadima was represented on the municipal council lists by only three people, while the Likud had dozens... Anyone who spent some time in the cities yesterday saw that the Kadima candidates were ashamed to highlight their party.  There were no pictures of [Kadima leader Tzipi] Livni, and the name Kadima was barely seen. The Likud, on the other hand, had pictures of Binyamin Netanyahu all over the place - and in fact, the Likud won many city council seats all over the country."

In Givatayim, for instance, winner Reuven Ben-Shachar ran independently - though Kadima claims he is a Kadima supporter.  His ticket won seven seats on the city council, while the Likud won one - and Kadima is not represented at all.

Eitan noted that in total, Likud lists received more votes nationwide than any other party.

In Jerusalem, winner Nir Barkat attempted to disassociate himself from his Kadima ties; the Likud received one council seat, out of 31, while Kadima is not represented.  The United Torah Judaism list has eight city council members in the capital, and Barkat's list has six.

In Ramat Gan and Shlomi, the Likud has three each, in Ashdod and Ramle - two each, and one each in Petach Tikva and Pardes Hanna. Kadima is not represented in these cities.  On the Rehovot city council, the Likud outscores Kadima, 4-1.

Labor: Look at Us!
The Labor Party also congratulated itself on the municipal elections. Party chairman Ehud Barak called his political ally Shalom Simchon, the current Agriculture Minister and the nationwide Labor campaign chairman, and congratulated him on the party's wins. Welfare Minister Yitzchak Herzog said, "The winners in Tel Aviv, Be'er Sheva, Rishon LeTzion, Holon, Petach Tikvah, Kfar Saba, Ramat HaSharon, Hod HaSharon and elsewhere are loyal Labor members."