The platform states that Jerusalem will remain under Israeli sovereignty, indicates that Israel will withdraw from large areas of Judea and Samaria, and does not mention the all-important Jordan Valley at all.
The party's Platform Committee Chairperson, Justice Minister Tzippy Livny, acknowledged the lack of detail, saying that in general, "Israel blabbers itself to death." She has said in the past that there is no point in elaborating on issues that must be settled in negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
The Jordan Valley represents a buffer zone between the rest of Israel and Jordan, Iraq and much of the Arab world.
The platform follows Ariel Sharon's line in stating that unspecified "large settlement blocs" - usually understood to mean only Maaleh Adumim, parts of Gush Etzion, and Ariel - will remain Israeli. The remaining areas of Judea and Samaria are understood to be dispensable.
As Ariel Sharon was the first Israeli prime minister to agree to the establishment of a Palestinian state, the platform unsurprisingly also features this concept prominently. Such a state, according to Kadima, would also serve as the solution for the so-called refugee problem. The Arabs claim that the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 led to the creation of "millions" of Arab refugees who deserve to return to their homes in Israel. The Kadima platform states that once a PA state is formed, the refugees will become the problem of this new entity.
"Israel's consent to a Palestinian state is contingent upon it being the absolute national solution for all Palestinians, including the refugees," Livny said. "No refugees will be allowed to enter Israel, under any agreement."
Meanwhile, the Labor Party platform is also being worked on - and appears to be startlingly similar to Kadima's. A seemingly major difference is Jerusalem. The holy city will apparently be noted by Labor as the "eternal capital of Israel," with the implication that the Arab-populated areas surrounding it will come under Palestinian Authority rule. The settlement blocs are also to come under PA sovereignty, but Labor would like to seem them leased by Israel in a Hong Kong-type arrangement. (Britain leased Hong Kong from China for a 99-year period, ending eight years ago.)
The Likud, currently running a close third in the polls behind Labor, has not yet finalized its platform. Party leader Binyamin Netanyahu has appointed a platform committee comprising Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, Health Minister Danny Naveh, faction whip MK Gideon Sa'ar and MKs Yuval Shteinitz and Uzi Landau.
The party's Platform Committee Chairperson, Justice Minister Tzippy Livny, acknowledged the lack of detail, saying that in general, "Israel blabbers itself to death." She has said in the past that there is no point in elaborating on issues that must be settled in negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
The Jordan Valley represents a buffer zone between the rest of Israel and Jordan, Iraq and much of the Arab world.
The platform follows Ariel Sharon's line in stating that unspecified "large settlement blocs" - usually understood to mean only Maaleh Adumim, parts of Gush Etzion, and Ariel - will remain Israeli. The remaining areas of Judea and Samaria are understood to be dispensable.
As Ariel Sharon was the first Israeli prime minister to agree to the establishment of a Palestinian state, the platform unsurprisingly also features this concept prominently. Such a state, according to Kadima, would also serve as the solution for the so-called refugee problem. The Arabs claim that the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 led to the creation of "millions" of Arab refugees who deserve to return to their homes in Israel. The Kadima platform states that once a PA state is formed, the refugees will become the problem of this new entity.
"Israel's consent to a Palestinian state is contingent upon it being the absolute national solution for all Palestinians, including the refugees," Livny said. "No refugees will be allowed to enter Israel, under any agreement."
Meanwhile, the Labor Party platform is also being worked on - and appears to be startlingly similar to Kadima's. A seemingly major difference is Jerusalem. The holy city will apparently be noted by Labor as the "eternal capital of Israel," with the implication that the Arab-populated areas surrounding it will come under Palestinian Authority rule. The settlement blocs are also to come under PA sovereignty, but Labor would like to seem them leased by Israel in a Hong Kong-type arrangement. (Britain leased Hong Kong from China for a 99-year period, ending eight years ago.)
The Likud, currently running a close third in the polls behind Labor, has not yet finalized its platform. Party leader Binyamin Netanyahu has appointed a platform committee comprising Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, Health Minister Danny Naveh, faction whip MK Gideon Sa'ar and MKs Yuval Shteinitz and Uzi Landau.