Israeli Elections

NEWS ANALYSIS

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D.C. Favorite' • • •

Livni, lacking baggage, would find friends in Washington.

Ron Kampeas
Jewish Telegraphic Agency

Washington

T

zipi Livni lacks familiarity with
the senior figures in the Obama
administration — that may be

a plus.
Livni's Kadima Party emerged as the
leader in this month's elections in Israel,
a surprise given the lead that Benjamin
Netanyahu, head of the Likud Party, had
shown in the polls.
While it remains unclear who will be
Israel's next prime minister — despite
Kadima's victory, the Likud-led right-wing
bloc has a majority of seats in Israel's
parliament — it seems apparent who
the administration in Washington would
prefer to see in the Prime Minister's Office,
even if members of the administration
have not said so explicitly.
"The American political establishment
would prefer to have Tzipi to Bibi," said
Steven Spiegel, a scholar with the Israel
Policy Forum. "She's a person who is seen
as moderate; she's seen as the most likely
to cooperate with the administration;
there's admiration for her feistiness.
"She's not known like Bibi or Ehud
Barak, but that means she'll get the benefit
of the doubt."
Livni, 50, enjoyed good relations with
the Bush administration, particularly

with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
However, eight years ago, the last time
Democrats occupied the White House,
Livni was a little-known Likud Party
Knesset backbencher known for little more
than being effective on political talk shows.
But after an election that held the pos-
sibility of a return to the tense relations
between a Democratic White House and
Likud-led Israel, when Netanyahu was
prime minister from 1996 to 1999, Livni
might be a breath of fresh air.
"It's clear that the Obama administra-
tion would be more comfortable with
Tzipi Livni as prime minister of Israel
because she at least talks about the issues
that are important to the Obama admin-
istration, such as restarting the peace
process with the Palestinians and reaching
an agreement with the Palestinians," said
Haim Malka, an analyst at the Center for
Strategic and International Studies.
"She doesn't have the same kind of
political baggage and history that Bibi
has."
Veteran Clinton administration offi-
cials who have joined President Obama's
Middle East policy team tend to regard
Netanyahu as unreliable.
Dennis Ross, President Bill Clinton's top
Middle East negotiator who is set to join
the Obama administration in an expanded
version of that role, once wrote that
Netanyahu was "nearly insufferable" in his
first meeting with Clinton.

Livni's reputation is that of a reliable
Tzipi Livni has led her party, Kadima,
political ally. As foreign minister under
to electoral victory, as we do the clear
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, she hewed
implication of these results that the Israeli
to the parameters of the peace talks that
electorate remains committed to a negoti-
Rice had revived, backing Rice's efforts to
ated, two-state resolution to the conflict;'
engage intensively with the moderate West
she said.
Bank-based leadership of the Palestinian
Mainstream Jewish groups were more
Authority and pressing in Israel for the
circumspect, preferring to wait out the
opening of the Gaza Strip border crossings.
grueling negotiations over who would lead
Netanyahu ran on a pledge to slow
the new government.
down the peace process, just as the Obama
Only the Anti-Defamation League
administration is determined to speed it up. weighed in.
Dovish pro-Israel groups were vocal in
"We congratulate Tzipi Livni and the
their relief at the notion that Livni at least
Kadima Party on their victory:' the ADL
had a chance of forming a
said in a statement. "We wish
coalition and leading Israel's Left: Likud Party
Ms. Livni well as she works to
next government.
faithful mar ched with
form a unity government that
"These results are
Netanyahu s igns
is reflective of Israel's diverse
encouraging:' said Ori Nir,
through Jer usalem's
society, committed to ensure
spokesman for Americans
Mehane Yeh udah mar-
its democratic system and can
for Peace Now. "They are
ket on elect' on day.
heal fissures within Israeli
much better than what
society, just as it will responsi-
polls have recently shown.
Right: Tzipi Livni
bly confront Israel's numerous
The efforts of the next few
thanks supp orters
domestic and international
days and weeks to form a
Feb. 11 after Israelis
challenges."
government coalition will
Election Co mmisslon
Livni speaks bluntly and
hopefully make [the elec-
verified she won the
enjoys engaging her political
tion] a victory for the path
Feb. 4 vote.
enemies. At a Jan. 16 appear-
of negotiations and peace
ance at the National Press
over the nationalist, dog-
Club in Washington toward
matic agenda of the hawkish right and the the end of Israel's operation in Gaza, when
extreme right."
a left-wing journalist called her a terrorist,
Diane Balser, Brit Tzedek v'Shalom's
she would not let the moderator wave off
executive director, echoed Nir.
the questioner. Instead, she answered him.
"We welcome preliminary reports that
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February 19 • 2009

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