Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz joined Ariel Sharon’s new Kadima party. In a surprise move, Mofaz quit the ruling Likud Party on Sunday for Kadima, despite vowing last week that he would stay put. Israel Radio said Sharon had offered Mofaz the defense portfolio should he win re-election in March. Mofaz had been expected to lose a Likud primary next week to Benjamin Netanyahu, a former prime minister. Netanyahu still faces competition from Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, as well as Yisrael Katz and Moshe Feiglin.
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