In the past two years, dozens of officials have been jailed or sentenced to death for their role in a multi-billion dollar smuggling ring, including a deputy minister of public security, Li Jizhou, who was given a death sentence in October, suspended for two years, when it will be reviewed.

ECONOMIST: The heresy that haunts the Communist Party

Shlomo Ben Ami - the public security minister and a leading member of the government's negotiating team with the Palestinians - has, by contrast, been damaged by his association with Ehud Barak.

BBC: Barak's party stripped of power

The expressed goal of Livni and her three opponents - Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz, Public Security Minister Avi Dichter and Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit - is not to ready Kadima for elections, but to select a new prime minister who will form a governing coalition that will bar the public from electing its representatives until March 2010.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Mrs. Clean is a fraud