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Livni to lead Israel ruling party Livni wins Israel party primary
(about 2 hours later)
Tzipi Livni has won the vote to become the new leader of Israel's ruling Kadima party, officials say. Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni has won the leadership of the governing Kadima party, putting her on track to succeed Ehud Olmert as prime minister.
The foreign minister beat Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz by a much narrower margin than the nine percentage points the exit polls had suggested. Ms Livni beat Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz by just 431 votes, or 1.1%, the central electoral commission said.
Ms Livni earlier told supporters in a radio broadcast that "the good guys" had won after the ballot by members of the party. In a victory speech, Ms Livni announced that she wanted to form a new cabinet "as quickly as possible in the face of the serious threats" facing Israel.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is resigning amid corruption allegations. She has 42 days to do so, during which time Mr Olmert remains prime minister.
Two television exit polls had suggested Ms Livni beat Mr Mofaz by a margin of 48% to 37%. He announced he would step down in July after facing growing pressure over multiple corruption investigations.
But the BBC's Tim Franks in Jerusalem says that as the results rolled in, Ms Livni's camp was admitting it was far narrower. The senior Palestinian Authority negotiator, Saeb Erekat, said he hoped the result would lead to a return to stability.
I just want afterwards not to disappoint any of you Tzipi LivniSpeaking after claiming victory class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7621536.stm">Israel's 'Ms Clean' 'Great reverence'
Official results showed Ms Livni had won by 43.1% to 42%. The BBC's Tim Franks in Jerusalem says that for much of Wednesday night, Ms Livni's supporters in the Kadima party cheered at what they believed had been an emphatic victory, predicted by a series of exit polls on Israeli TV.
If confirmed, Ms Livni will now have about six weeks to form a new coalition, during which time Mr Olmert will remain prime minister. KADIMA PRIMARY RESULTS Tzipi Livni: 43.1% (16,936 votes)Shaul Mofaz: 42% (16,505)Meir Sheetrit: 8.4% (3,327)Avi Dichter: 6.5% (2,563) class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7621536.stm">Israel's 'Ms Clean'
If she can form a coalition Ms Livni, 50, will become Israel's first woman prime minister in more than 30 years. Mr Olmert phoned his foreign minister to congratulate her and promise his full co-operation after she appeared on track to win with about 48% of the vote. Then the balloon slowly deflated as the results rolled in, our correspondent says.
The early scene in her campaign headquarters was one of jubilation and our correspondent says even Mr Olmert phoned his congratulations. According to the final results released by Kadima, Ms Livni won the election with 43.1%, or 16,936 votes. Mr Mofaz, a former defence minister and chief of staff of the Israeli military, came in a close second with 42%, or 16,505 votes.
Ms Livni is regarded as being more dovish than Mr Mofaz, when it comes both to dealing with the Palestinians and possibly to her readiness to order military action against Iran, our correspondent reports. The two other candidates, cabinet minister Meir Sheetrit and former Shin Bet director Avi Dichter, lagged far behind with 8.4% and 6.5% respectively.
Iran concern Mr Mofaz's supporters have warned that they may lodge an appeal against the result. His campaign headquarters has reportedly already demanded the ballot in the southern town of Ashkelon be disqualified.
In a conference call, Ms Livni thanked her supporters for their efforts and pledged not to let them down. Supporters of Shaul Mofaz said they might appeal against the result
"You were just incredible," she said. In a victory speech early on Thursday morning, Ms Livni said that she would seek to form a new coalition government "as quickly as possible" and called for party unity.
"And the good guys won... I just want afterwards not to disappoint any of you and to do all the right things that you fought for." "All the people who came to vote today expressed what they wish to happen in this country," she said. "The national responsibility [bestowed] by the public brings me to approach this job with great reverence."
If she can form a fresh governing coalition within the next six weeks, Ms Livni will become Israel's first woman prime minister since Golda Meir stepped down in 1974.
Our correspondent says that will be no easy task, and if it were to end in failure, general elections will follow in a further three months.
'Mrs Clean'
Ms Livni is seen as less hawkish than Mr Mofaz when it comes to the Palestinians and to dealing with Iran's nuclear ambitions.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT Ehud Olmert formally resigns as prime minister and his cabinet resigns with himPresident consults parties to pick a Knesset member to form a new cabinet - expected to be the Kadima leaderThe prime minister-designate has 42 days to form a coalition acceptable to parliamentIf no coalition is formed, general election must be held in 90 daysMr Olmert remains prime minister until the Knesset approves a new government Q&A: Israeli leadership changeWHAT HAPPENS NEXT Ehud Olmert formally resigns as prime minister and his cabinet resigns with himPresident consults parties to pick a Knesset member to form a new cabinet - expected to be the Kadima leaderThe prime minister-designate has 42 days to form a coalition acceptable to parliamentIf no coalition is formed, general election must be held in 90 daysMr Olmert remains prime minister until the Knesset approves a new government Q&A: Israeli leadership change
Critics say Ms Livni, a former Mossad spy, lacks political experience. Critics say Ms Livni, a former Mossad spy, also lacks political experience.
Shmuel Sandler, professor at the Begin-Sadat Centre for Strategic Studies, noted: "[She] is a good choice as far as Israel's foreign relations are concerned, but there is still the tension with Iran. I am not so sure how much experience she has for such matters and if she will be able to take the right decisions," said Shmuel Sandler, professor at the Begin-Sadat Centre for Strategic Studies.
"[Ms Livni] is a good choice as far as Israel's foreign relations are concerned, but there is still the tension with Iran. I am not so sure how much experience she has for such matters and if she will be able to take the right decisions. "She looks like 'Mrs Clean'... but she will still have to form a coalition," he told the Reuters news agency. "It is very difficult to predict whether she will be a strong prime minister."
"She looks like 'Mrs Clean'... but she will still have to form a coalition," he told Reuters news agency.
"It is very difficult to predict whether she will be a strong prime minister."
Kadima was formed three years ago when former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon split from Likud to draw together support from left and right for his policy of unilateral withdrawals from the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank.Kadima was formed three years ago when former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon split from Likud to draw together support from left and right for his policy of unilateral withdrawals from the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank.
But its poll ratings fell as a stroke left Mr Sharon in a coma. But its poll ratings fell after a stroke left Mr Sharon in a coma.
His successor, Mr Olmert, faced strong criticism of his handling of the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war and he was investigated in several corruption scandals.His successor, Mr Olmert, faced strong criticism of his handling of the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war and he was investigated in several corruption scandals.
Polls now suggest Likud could win a potential general election, which would take place if a coalition government cannot be formed in the wake of the Kadima leadership vote. Polls now suggest the centre-right opposition party, Likud, could win a potential general election, which would take place if a coalition government cannot be formed in the wake of the Kadima leadership vote.
The Kadima election comes as the US government is continuing its push for an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal before President George W Bush leaves office in January.The Kadima election comes as the US government is continuing its push for an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal before President George W Bush leaves office in January.
Mr Olmert and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas held talks on Tuesday and a spokesman for the outgoing prime minister said the two would continue to meet until a new government was sworn in.Mr Olmert and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas held talks on Tuesday and a spokesman for the outgoing prime minister said the two would continue to meet until a new government was sworn in.
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