There is no shortage of candidates lying in wait to replace Olmert when his Kadima Party holds leadership elections in September. But the one most likely to do so is Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.
[Israeli PM Olmert resigns…, The iPINIONS Journal, July 31, 2008]
As expected, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni defeated her chief rival yesterday to assume leadership of Israel’s ruling Kadima Party (think Democratic Party).
Accordingly, she will have 42 days to form a governing coalition.
If Livni succeeds (and I predict she will despite Israel’s notoriously fractious politics), she will become the second female prime minister in the country’s short 60-year history. (Golda Meir of course was the first. Take note America.)
If she fails, Olmert will remain a caretaker president until national elections are held early next year. And at that time she will face a formidable challenge from former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, now leader of the Likud Party (think Republican Party).
It’s anybody’s guess, however, what her election would portend for Israel’s two most-pressing national issues, namely its looming war with Iran and elusive peace with Palestine.
But, given that it was the putative dove Olmert who launched air strikes against Syria (as a dry run for Iran?), bungled a Bush-like ground war against Hezbollah in Lebanon, and presided over perennially feckless peace talks with the Palestinians, one should not expect Livni to usher in much change in Israeli politics. After all, just as Americans expect John McCain to continue the policies of George W. Bush, Israelis expect Livni to continue those of Ehud Olmert.
On the other hand, if that preternatural warmonger Netanyahu becomes prime minister, war with Iran and no peace with Palestine are virtually guaranteed.
Related Articles:
Olmert Resigns
Founding of the Kadima Party
Ceremonial return of Israelis and Palestinians to roadmap to peace…
Israel vs. Hezbollah: hardly good fighting evil
Israel war against Hezbollah
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