Tzipi Livni, Israel's new Prime Minister must form coalition

by Tina Kells | September 18, 2008 at 12:50 pm

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Israeli Foreign Minister, and former Mossad agent, Tzipi Livni has won the leadership of the country's ruling Kadima party, and has 42 days to form a coalition with opposition party leaders in order to officially become the Prime Minister of Israel.

In what was a very close leadership race, Livni defeated her nearest rival, Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz, by only 431 votes. Livin is expected to meet with her leadership rivals to gain their public support before speaking with opposition leaders about a coalition.

The Kadima party had to seek a new leader after corruption allegations were launched against current Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Olmert stepped down in order to defend himself against the allegations, but will remain as caretaker prime minister in the interim.

In a victory speech early on Thursday, she said she would approach the job of prime minister with "great reverence".
The senior Palestinian Authority negotiator, Saeb Erekat, said he hoped the result would lead to a return to stability.

The Islamist movement, Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, said it expected no change in Israel's policy towards the Palestinians.

The Kadima party has solid support in Israel, and it is in the best interest of Livni and some opposition leaders to avoid a general election by forming a government alliance. But former Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, whose party holds a lead in the popular polls, wants voters to be allowed to choose Israel's next leader.

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