Landau denied last night that he was quitting. However, he met with front-running Binyamin Netanyahu afterwards, and the two came up with an agreement on diplomatic and other issues. "I don't think that Netanyahu will join a Sharon-led government," Landau said, "and that's why I'm supporting him."
Though Landau threw his support behind the candidacy of former Prime Minister Netanyahu, Minister Katz said he expects many Landau supporters to vote for him [Katz]. Katz is currently in last or next-to-last place in the 5-man race, according to most polls.
Another candidate, Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz, said, "The union of Uzi Landau and Binyamin Netanyahu will diminish even further the number of Knesset seats the Likud will receive. They did it because Netanyahu is feeling the strain, and because support for me is growing."
Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, who is also running for Likud head, was forced to deal with an uncomfortable endorsement this morning. Finance Minister Ehud Olmert, Ariel Sharon's #2 man in the new Kadima party, said, "I don't want to intervene in the affairs of another party, but if someone were to ask me, I would say that Shalom is the candidate with whom Sharon will best be able to work and form a coalition after the elections."
Minister Shalom responded by saying that most of those who support him in Kadima are people who supported him since their days in the Likud. "I was the one who brought them into the Likud in the first place," he said - but he did not explain why they transferred their support to Sharon and Kadima.
It was also reported that Omri Sharon, the Prime Minister's son, has instructed his supporters who remained in the Likud to vote for Shalom. Omri Sharon denied the reports.
Elsewhere in the right-wing camp, talks between the National Union and the National Religious Party regarding their election merger have stalled somewhat. A National Union aide said that the talks are in fact stuck on several issues, "but they will continue until we either overcome them or do not."
Though Landau threw his support behind the candidacy of former Prime Minister Netanyahu, Minister Katz said he expects many Landau supporters to vote for him [Katz]. Katz is currently in last or next-to-last place in the 5-man race, according to most polls.
Another candidate, Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz, said, "The union of Uzi Landau and Binyamin Netanyahu will diminish even further the number of Knesset seats the Likud will receive. They did it because Netanyahu is feeling the strain, and because support for me is growing."
Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, who is also running for Likud head, was forced to deal with an uncomfortable endorsement this morning. Finance Minister Ehud Olmert, Ariel Sharon's #2 man in the new Kadima party, said, "I don't want to intervene in the affairs of another party, but if someone were to ask me, I would say that Shalom is the candidate with whom Sharon will best be able to work and form a coalition after the elections."
Minister Shalom responded by saying that most of those who support him in Kadima are people who supported him since their days in the Likud. "I was the one who brought them into the Likud in the first place," he said - but he did not explain why they transferred their support to Sharon and Kadima.
It was also reported that Omri Sharon, the Prime Minister's son, has instructed his supporters who remained in the Likud to vote for Shalom. Omri Sharon denied the reports.
Elsewhere in the right-wing camp, talks between the National Union and the National Religious Party regarding their election merger have stalled somewhat. A National Union aide said that the talks are in fact stuck on several issues, "but they will continue until we either overcome them or do not."