Kadima head Tzipi Livni traded barbs with her political opponents at Israel's annual business conference on Monday night. Livni started by challenging Labor head Ehud Barak and Likud Chairman Binyamin Netanyahu to a sudden debate, telling them to join her on the platform as she spoke.
Netanyahu and Barak ignored the challenge, preferring to remain seated. However, tensions between the three remained high as they traded challenges throughout the evening.
Livni continued to attempt to goad Netanyahu into a reaction following her call to debate, saying, “I agree that we need to invest in the core subjects—and also in the core subjects in the hareidi-religious community, what do you think of that?” She then referred to a plan revealed Monday by Likud candidates that calls to provide one year of free university studies to those who complete IDF or national service. “Even when you cut funding from the education budget you were convincing, and now you are convincing when you offer a free year of schooling,” she said.
Livni also needled Barak, calling him “not nice.” Barak's campaign slogan is, “Not nice, but a leader.” Barak fired criticism at Livni as well, telling her she was part of the bureaucracy she criticized in her speech.
Netanyahu focused on the economy in his speech. “We're at the height of a worldwide economic crisis that threatens the global economy and also Israel's citizens,” he said, adding that by choosing the correct policies, Israel can get out of the crisis “faster than you think.”
The economic plan that the government recently chose is too limited, “but it will suffice until the elections,” Netanyahu continued. “After I'm elected, I plan to first lower taxes, bring high-tech workers into the field of education, and improve the roads and transportation infrastructure, connecting the periphery to central Israel,” he added.
Barak said his party would bring change to government, creating a coalition that would stand “for four full years.” On the subject of the economy, Barak said the government must protect Israelis' pensions. “Everyone who worked is entitled to receive a full pension,” he said.