Kadima their supporters from doing so. Neither Labor nor Meretz, who were initially expected to be Kadima's natural allies, recommended Livni as prime minister to Peres, reportedly due to Livni's courting of Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu party. Shimon Peres told Ynet in 2006 that "there is no difference" between Kadima and Labor, and suggested that the two groups unite. He added that neither he nor Kadima founder Ariel Sharon liked the economic policy of Likud chairman Benjamin Netanyahu. The "Haaretz" diplomatic correspondent Aluf Benn suggested in November 2009, that Kadima does not have any ideological differences with the Labor Party that
2012 Kadima leadership election Another Kadima MK called the remarks "the opposite of prime ministerial." Livni said that candidates were welcome to bring up the issue at a party meeting. However, at the meeting Livni maneuvered to delay the primary for several months. Finally, on 19 January 2012, Livni set the primary date for 27 March 2012. A Haaretz article stated that the campaign will likely involve mudslinging and personal attacks that could further damage the party's standing. At a campaign rally, Livni was confident and said that Kadima under her leadership was best poised to defeat the incumbent Likud under Benjamin Netanyahu. Mofaz