Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Challenges ahead for newly elected Kadima chair Livni

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)





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 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)





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











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.





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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