Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni’s marginal victory over her nearest rival Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz in the recently concluded election as leader of the ruling Kadima Party has strengthened her to be instrumental in the ongoing Middle East peace process. However, her primary aim would be to muster support for her candidacy as next prime minister of Israel from her rivals within the party as well as in the coalition.
Despite observers’ predictions that Livni had to make extra concessions to ultra-orthodox Shas party to keep them in the fold, the Labor’s poor standing in public polls will stand her in good stead. The centre-right opposition Likud party leader Binyamin Netanyahu’s repeated calls for general elections where he enjoys a certain victory as per recent public polls is also expected to work in Livni’s favor.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s decision to quit owing to bribery charges as put Kadima to find a suitable candidate for his post. If Livni fails to garner support Olmert will continue his term as part of the caretaker government until general elections are held.
Olmert had talks with the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, and is understood to provide support to the peace deal initiatives of possible Livni administration as the US President George Bush desires the deal to be through before he completes his term by this year end. But analysts opined that Livni, a lawyer and former Mossad agent did not had the political power to achieve her goal of having a peace deal even if she becomes the prime minister.
Nevertheless, Ahmadinejad’s recent support for his vice president for tourism, Esfandiar Rahim Mashai despite making a statement Iran was a friend of Israeli people, is perceived as an indication towards tension meltdown in the Middle East. Besides, Iran’s President reestablished Mashai’s words by calling his opposition is to Israel but not to its people.
With the given scenario, Livni is in a position to achieve her goal and deliver goods as well. Coming days are expected to unfurl the prospects of finding permanent solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict.