Sharon names his new party

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon Thursday decided to name his breakaway centrist political party Kadima, which is Hebrew for "Forward."

His strategists said the two other names considered, Hatikva, Hebrew for hope, and the National Responsibility lost out, according to the Jerusalem Post.

"Kadima broadcasts positive messages about momentum and moving forward," one Sharon strategist said. "It scored just as well in our focus groups and studies as the National Responsibility Party, but it is much less cumbersome."

Sharon also opened an office for the party in Tel Aviv Thursday, and was to meet with 14 members of the Knesset, or parliament, who followed him when he left the Likud party he helped found 30 years ago, UPI reports.

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