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Kadima
Hebrew: kadīmah
Also known as: Kadima Sharon
Israeli political party formed in 2005 by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, in opposition to his former party, Likud.
Kadima is from Hebrew, meaning "forward".
Kadima's political principles focuses largely on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Its basic principles are the necessity to keep a Jewish majority in Israel, achieving this by allowing an independent Palestinian state, on the Gaza Strip and part of the West Bank. The future land of Palestine is understood as part of the natural territory of Israel, but it aims at a larger compromise, in order to build peace and stability.
All of Jerusalem and larger settlement would become permanent part of the state of Israel.
In addition to the principles above, there is still very little defined for Kadima, except establishing modifying the political system of Israel in order to secure better control for Knesset over new legislative proposals.
The establishment of Kadima was the product of the tension inside Sharon's government, and within his former party, Likud. Kadima's politics is therefore Sharon's intended politics as prime minister.
Shortly after the establishment of the party, Sharon fell seriously sick, suffering a hemorrhagic stroke, expected never to be able to return to politics. The future of Kadima is therefore uncertain, but it appears that its establishment has come far enough to participate in the March 2006 elections even without Sharon, and opinion polls indicate that it may even become the largest party in the Knesset.
History
2005 November 20: Prime minister Ariel Sharon leaves the Likud party in protest of its politics concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. New elections are planned for March 2006.
— November 21: Forms a new party, Kadima, declaring that prominent member of other parties, mainly Likud, will join him. Shimon Peres of the Labour Party are among those joining him.
— November 28: The political principles of Kadima are presented by Justice Minister Tzipi Livni.
— December 18: Sharon suffers a minor stroke, but could after a brief hospitalization return to public in a seemingly healthy condition.
2006 January 4: Sharon suffers a serious hemorrhagic stroke, with bleeding in the brain. Most commentators agree that he will never be able to return to politics.
— January 16: Ehud Olmert is elected leader of Kadima, thereby becoming the party's prime minister candidate.
— March 28: General elections make Kadima the largest party, receiving 22% of the votes, gaining 29 out of 120 seats in the Knesset. Ehud Olmert is asked to form a colation government.
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By: Tore Kjeilen
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