Tzipi Livni

Tzipi Livni is an Israeli politician and the leader of the Kadima party. She ran in the general election held in February 2009. Livni won the vote count in the general election. However, both Livni and her opponent, Benjamin Netanyahu, failed to get the majority needed to govern. President Shimon Peres asked Likud leader Netanyahu to form the next government after a majority of parliament members said they supported him.The Washington Post: Netanyahu Assembles New Israeli Government (February 20, 2009) Netanyahu and Livni failed to reach an agreement regarding a coalition.BBC News: No deal in Israel coalition talks (February 27, 2009) Netanyahu instead formed a coalition with the Labor Party and three right-wing parties and took office on April 1, 2009.

Livni was raised in a strongly nationalist family - her father was a member of the Irgun group. However, she underwent an "ideological conversion" and now wants to see the creation of a Palestinian state beside Israel. To achieve this, she advocates Israeli withdrawal from most of the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem.Al Jazeera: Livni 'wins' Kadima leadership vote(September 17, 2008)BBC News: Tzipi Livni: Israel's 'Mrs Clean'(May 2, 2008)

Livni won the election on September 17, 2008 for leader of the Kadima party. It was a decisive 10 point victory over her Shaul Mofaz rival in the contest to replace Ehud Olmert as party leader and Israeli prime minister.Al Jazeera: Livni 'wins' Kadima leadership vote(September 17, 2008)

Olmert was forced to resign after he was implicated in a bribery scandal involving American businessman Morris Talansky. He agreed to step down immediately after the vote was decided.Haaretz: Olmert: Stepping down is painful, but I feel no bitterness (September 17, 2008)

"The land of Israel does not belong to the right, just as peace does not belong to the left."BBC: Israeli Rivals Claim Election Win (February 11, 2009)