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| Shaul Mofaz wins leadership of Israel's Kadima party | Shaul Mofaz wins leadership of Israel's Kadima party |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Israel's main opposition party, Kadima, has elected former defence minister and army chief Shaul Mofaz as its leader. | Israel's main opposition party, Kadima, has elected former defence minister and army chief Shaul Mofaz as its leader. |
| He defeated the current party leader, Tzipi Livni, by a wide margin, winning 61.7% of the vote in Tuesday's primary. | He defeated the current party leader, Tzipi Livni, by a wide margin, winning 61.7% of the vote in Tuesday's primary. |
| Both politicians are former members of the governing Likud party of the Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. | Both politicians are former members of the governing Likud party of the Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. |
| Kadima is the biggest party in parliament, but recent polls suggest the number of seats it holds could be halved in next year's election. | Kadima is the biggest party in parliament, but recent polls suggest the number of seats it holds could be halved in next year's election. |
| Despite the polls, Mr Mofaz said in his victory speech that Kadima would lead the next government and appealed to Israelis to have faith. | Despite the polls, Mr Mofaz said in his victory speech that Kadima would lead the next government and appealed to Israelis to have faith. |
| He also promised to "lead a new social order", seek new peace talks with the Palestinians, and "campaign for Israel's image and its future". | He also promised to "lead a new social order", seek new peace talks with the Palestinians, and "campaign for Israel's image and its future". |
| Mr Mofaz was born in Iran and emigrated to Israel with his parents as a child. | Mr Mofaz was born in Iran and emigrated to Israel with his parents as a child. |
| He is a former paratrooper who went on to be chief of staff and eventually defence minister under Ariel Sharon. | He is a former paratrooper who went on to be chief of staff and eventually defence minister under Ariel Sharon. |
| 'Uninspiring contest' | 'Uninspiring contest' |
| The BBC's Jon Donnison in Jerusalem says while Mr Mofaz beat the incumbent Kadima leader Tzipi Livni comfortably, a poor turn out of just over 40% of party members demonstrated it was an uninspiring contest. | The BBC's Jon Donnison in Jerusalem says while Mr Mofaz beat the incumbent Kadima leader Tzipi Livni comfortably, a poor turn out of just over 40% of party members demonstrated it was an uninspiring contest. |
| Kadima was only founded in 2005 by Mr Sharon, shortly before he suffered an incapacitating stroke. | |
| Despite being the largest single party in Israel's parliament, it is in opposition. | |
| Few commentators give the party much chance of beating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right wing coalition government in elections scheduled for next year. | Few commentators give the party much chance of beating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right wing coalition government in elections scheduled for next year. |
| After his victory Mr Mofaz appealed for party unity and said he would take the fight to Mr Netanyahu. | |
| "I intend to win the general elections and bring Netanyahu down," he said. "Our country deserves a new social agenda, a different government system, equality of civic duties, and more serious attempts to achieve peace in our region." | |
| He appealed for party unity, and hinted there would be a place in his government for Ms Livni if he becomes prime minister next year. | |
| In terms of foreign policy Mr Mofaz is generally seen as more moderate than Israel's current leadership. | In terms of foreign policy Mr Mofaz is generally seen as more moderate than Israel's current leadership. |
| In 2009 he came up with his own plan for peace with the Palestinians. | In 2009 he came up with his own plan for peace with the Palestinians. |
| On relations on Iran he has not been publically outspoken but has critcised government officials for speculating too much in the media about a possible strike on Iranian nuclear facilities. |