Profile: Tzipi Livni, new leader of Israel's ruling
party
The file photo taken on September 15,
2008 shows Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni smiling during a meeting
with her Spanish counterpart Miguel Angel Moratinos in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Final results released by Israel's ruling Kadima party early Thursay
showed that Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni won the party's primary, local
news service Ynet reported. (Chinese media/Yin Bogu)
Photo
Gallery
by Qi Xianghui
JERUSALEM, Sept. 19 (Chinese media) -- On the first day as
Kadima leader, Tzipi Livni received a stunning blow from Shaul Mofaz,
transportation minister and her main rival in the primary, as he announced
temporary withdrawal from politics on Thursday evening.
Mofaz decided not to continue and seek a position in
the new government but remains a member of Kadima.
The announcement means that the former Israel Defense
Force chief of staff, would be a normal citizen with no political power. As for
Kadima, his resignation means the party lost a most prominent representative of
eastern-born Jews as well as a member most identified with security.
The local newspaper Ha'aretz commented on Mofaz's
quittance as a indication that "Kadima divided after Livni's victory".
Without doubt, Livni was shocked by the sudden change
as she planned on Thursday morning to meet Mofaz and the latter has already
recognized her victory in the race.
Livni's aides said she tried to reach Mofaz to
persuade him to reconsider, but he refused to meet with her.
Mofaz's backing off overshadowed Livni's process to
form a new coalition after primary. Uncertainties and challenges lie ahead for
the newly elected Kadima leader on her way to assume the role of prime minister.
LIVNI'S EFFORTS TO FORGE
COALITION
There are utmost 42 days left for Livni to form a new
government after she won the primary. If a coalition is not formed by her or any
other Kadima leader, a general elections will be held.
In case of general elections, the winning party will
start the cabinet-making efforts all over again.
In such a scenario, the Likud Party led by opposition
leader Benjamin Netanyahu, is most likely to defeat other parties, including
Livni-led Kadima and Barak-led Labor, and win early general elections, as
indicated by previous poll results.
Therefore, she has to close ranks within the Kadima
party while trying to retain the current four-party coalition, which include the
Labor and the Pensioners as well as the ultra-Orthodox Shas party besides her
own Kadima.
With the first two coalition partner parties less
likely to budge, the stance of Shas, which threatened not to join a Livni-led
government if the future of Jerusalem is discussed and asked for more welfare
spending from the Treasury, becomes crucial in the making of a coalition.
Hours after the victory, Livni began her efforts to
form a new government and become prime minister by arranging meeting with the
three rivals inside Kadima, Shaul Mofaz, Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit and
Public Security Minister Avi Dichter, to discuss the upcoming new government
issue.
Upon hearing the primary results, Sheetrit declared
that Kadima should form a coalition without giving in to the ultra-Orthodox
demands and Kadima's existence is in danger if Livni fails.
Earlier Thursday, Livni phoned Labor chair Ehud Barak
to discuss possible cooperation between the two parties in the future. It is
estimated that in light of Labor's poor standings among voters, it is likely to
stay in the government to avoid early elections.
The Shas officials expressed doubt that Livni could
build a new government, saying she would be caught between her desires to forma
coalition and to avoid looking like she gave into the blackmail of coalition
horse-trading.
Thus Livni invited Eli Yishai, the Chairman of Shas,
to her home in north Tel Aviv where they discussed possible political scenarios
following the expected resignation of President Ehud Olmert, during which she
warned that she could form a coalition without his party.
OPPOSITION LEADER CALLS
FOR GENERAL ELECTIONS
Binyamin Netanyahu, Israeli opposition leader and
Likud chairman, on Thursday evening urged the country to hold general elections,
saying that the Kadima government has failed in security, economy and education
in recent two and a half years.
"The only way to stop the deteriorating situation is
to enable the people of Israel to elect a new government," said Netanyahu.
He added that "we need people of Israel to determine
who will be Israeli prime minister, not Kadima party members."
The opposition chairman said his party could "restore
security, boost the education system and stabilize economy," and Israel could be
put on the track to success.
He had called on Livni to coordinate a date for
general elections as soon as possible and intended to approach Barak, Yishai and
other factions' leaders on the subject.
Other parliament members also expressed support for
general elections after Livni won the Kadima party primary by a narrow margin of
431 votes, or 1.1 percent of the vote.
"I estimate we are on our way to general elections
and I believe the next government will be right-wing. I just hope it happens
fast," Uri Ariel, a member from National Union-NRP, was quoted by the Jerusalem
Post as saying.
"The public needs to understand that this government
mainly gives up Israel's territory. We need a responsible leadership," Ariel
said.
Reuven Rivlin, a parliament member from Likud, said
that "we have no choice but to go to general elections."
Livni is generally considered more left-wing. She has
been leading the Israeli team in negotiations with the Palestinians, and has
also expressed her resolve to continue with the talks.
Livni's victory not automatically
sunshine to peace process
JERUSALEM, Sept. 18 (Chinese media) -- Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, the new
chair of the ruling Kadima party and possibly the new prime minister, vowed
Thursday to push forward the peace process, yet analysts cautioned that the odds
do not necessary favor her.
With a slim margin of merely 1.1 percentage point, the top
Israeli diplomat beat her main rival, Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz, in
the party's primary on Wednesday, and became the third and first woman leader of
the three-year-old centrist party. Full story
Livni likely to form coalition after
clinching Kadima leadership
The file photo taken on Sept. 15, 2008
shows Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni smiling during a meeting with
her Spanish counterpart Miguel Angel Moratinos in Tel Aviv, Israel.
(Chinese media/Yin Bogu)
Photo
Gallery
JERUSALEM, Sept. 18 (Chinese media) -- After winning Wednesday's
ruling Kadima primary, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is likely to form a
coalition which will make her Israel's second woman prime minister, analysts
said Thursday, though pointing out that there are stumbling blocks for her to
clear before she manages to do so. Full story
Livni enjoys comfortable lead in race
for Kadima leadership
Israel's Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni
(L) speaks with a pupil during a ceremony for the first day of school at
an elementary school in Tel Aviv September 1, 2008.
(Chinese media/ReutersPhoto)
Photo
Gallery
JERUSALEM, Sept. 4 (Chinese media) -- With less than two weeks to
the primary elections of Israel's ruling Kadima party, a new poll put Foreign
Minister Tzipi Livni 20 percentage points ahead of Transportation Minister Shaul
Mofaz, local daily Ha'aretz reported Thursday on its website. Full story
Livni wins Kadima primary with slim
margin
JERUSALEM, Sept. 18 (Chinese media) -- Final results released by
Israel's ruling Kadima party early Thursday showed that Foreign Minister Tzipi
Livni won the party's primary, local news service Ynet reported.
With all votes counted, Livni secured 16,936 votes, or
43.1 percent, as compared to 16,505 votes, or 42 percent, that went to her main
rival, Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz, said the report. Full story
Livni vows to creat government
stability
JERUSALEM, Sept. 18 (Chinese media) -- The new chairman of
Israel's Kadima, Tzipi Livni, vowed to create government stability with other
ministers in her victory speech early Thursday morning after being declared the
winner of the party's primary, local daily Ha'aretz said.
"All the people who came to vote today expressed what
they wish to happen in this country," Livni told reporters. Full story
Olmert, candidates congratulates Livni
on victory
JERUSALEM, Sept. 18 (Chinese media) -- Israeli Prime Minister
Ehud Olmert early Thursday congratulated Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on her
apparent victory in the ruling Kadima party's primary. Full Story
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