Region | Palestinian Territories
Livni faces first test in bid to form new coalition
After her expected victory in Israel's governing party, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni prepares to fight her first political battle of forming a new government, a task that many Palestinian analysts say will define the future road to peace with the Palestinians.
- By Jumana Al Tamimi, Associate Editor
- Published: 00:18 September 19, 2008
Dubai: After her expected victory in Israel's governing party, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni prepares to fight her first political battle of forming a new government, a task that many Palestinian analysts say will define the future road to peace with the Palestinians.
Official results of Kadima's party elections held on Wednesday showed that Livni won by a narrow margin in the race to replace Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who is facing a number of corruption allegations, as head of the governing party. The tight race was surprising.
Livni, a moderate, received 43.1 per cent of the vote, compared with 42 per cent for Shaul Mofaz, a hawkish former military chief and defence minister.
"This shows that the Mofaz campaign was more organised," said Hani Al Masri, a Palestinian columnist and director of a research centre in Ramallah.
Mofaz has succeeded in building "fast alliances with non-military parties", said Mahdi Abdul Hadi, Head of the Jerusalem-based Palestinian Academic Society for the study of International Affairs.
The 50-year-old Livni could become the most powerful woman in Israel and go into history as the second female Prime Minister after Golda Meir who served as prime minister from 1969 to 1974.
Livni, a lawyer and former Mossad spy, joined the parliament for the first time in 1999. She is considered the "political daughter" of former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and has a reputation for integrity that has kept her free from the scandals that have dogged Olmert and other Israeli ministers.
Pleasing all
After Wednesday's elections, Livni will have 42 days to form a government in order to avert an early election that opinion polls say would bring the right-wing Likud leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, to power.
Forming a government will be Livni's "first battle" to consolidate her presence and its legitimacy in the Israeli society, Abdul Hadi noted. "The challenge she faces is whether she can employ her background to serve her presence as a new leader for the Zionist society," Abdul Hadi said. "Livni has spoken (earlier) of an exclusive Jewish State."
In order to succeed, she will have to appease all main parties in Israel: the military institution, the religious establishment, and the business community.
Bringing in the ultra-Orthodox Shas Party to the government could be key to building a new government coalition. Shas already said it would not join a government that is willing to negotiate the future of Jerusalem, and Livni has made her commitment for the peace process known.
"Palestinian negotiators realise that herself alone is not enough to implement a decision. She needs the support of the military institution and the religious establishment," said Abdul Hadi. Livni, who is often seen as Israel's acceptable face in the world, has also visited some Arab countries, including Qatar, and has been warmly received.
Arab officials, according to Abdul Hadi, are looking for someone new in Israeli leadership with a broader, Middle Eastern outlook on peace. Livni, said Abdul Hadi, "is the gentle face that will show that Israel is not a closed Ghetto".
Hamas stays sceptical
The Palestinian movement Hamas said on Thursday that if Tzipi Livni became Israeli prime minister it would mean the pursuit of a policy of "aggression" against Palestinians.
"Livni's accession to power would signify the same policy of repression and aggression against the Palestinian people carried out by previous Zionist leaders," a Hamas spokesman said in a statement. "We must remain committed to resistance as a strategy to defend our rights."
Livni, currently Israel's foreign minister, won the leadership of the centrist Kadima party on Wednesday in a vote to replace Prime Minister Ehud Olmert who is standing down to fight corruption allegations.
Hamas has ruled the Gaza Strip since June last year when it routed forces loyal to Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas after days of street battles.
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