Ehud Olmert Tzipi Livni An election for the leadership of Kadima was held on 17 September 2008 as a concession to Kadima's coalition partner, Labor, which had threatened to bring down the government if Prime Minister Ehud Olmert didn't stand aside following police investigations into alleged corruption during his terms as minister and as mayor of Jerusalem.

As Kadima remained the largest party in the Knesset and the coalition, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, the designated new leader after balloting, had the chance to form a government without a need for elections.

[7] While both frontrunners supported a two-state solution,[8][9] Mofaz attacked Livni for wanting to divide Jerusalem in a final peace deal with the Palestinians,[10] and claimed that his military experience would make him a more qualified Prime Minister.

[citation needed] Livni also enjoyed a "clean" reputation, being seen as having honesty and integrity, and being free from corruption allegations.

[13] Outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert remained neutral in the primary, but was alleged to privately favor Mofaz.