Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., August 21, 2008 Av 20, 5768 | | Israel Time: 03:37 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 04:33 20/08/2008 The leading candidate By Ari Shavit Tags: Israel, Kadima, Tzipi Livni The leading candidate for the prime ministry is sure of herself. Her knees are not knocking. She has no doubts about her victory, nor does she have any doubts about her ability to follow through on her victory. That is beneath her. The foreign minister feels that she is ready and willing to lead the country. If she wins the Kadima primary, what kind of government will Tzipi Livni form? She will propose that Labor, Shas and Likud join a national unity government. But she has no illusions. She knows that a government headed by her would not serve Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu's interests, and therefore, Netanyahu will refuse. If that happens, there is a good chance that the Livni government will be a continuation of the current Olmert government. Her days in office will be numbered, and she will be laying the groundwork for establishing a government after the next elections. And what will the agenda of Livni's government be? First of all, the diplomatic process with the Palestinians. The foreign minister is not too fond of the process Ehud Olmert has been conducting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. But she is very fond of the process that she herself has been conducting with chief Palestinian negotiator Ahmed Qureia (Abu Ala). Livni's process is aimed at concluding an agreement that is not a mere summary of basic principles, but a detailed treaty. An agreement that is not partial, but final. An agreement that would draw a clear border and define binding security arrangements. An agreement that would comprehensively solve the problem of the refugees and also divide Jerusalem. Advertisement Is there really any chance of signing such a document with Abu Ala? Livni's associates broadcast an optimism that is never explained and is not entirely comprehensible. Clearly, Jerusalem is a tough nut to crack. But the foreign minister insists that Jerusalem will be included in the deal, because in her view, it would be wrong to omit any substantive issue. Everything must be finalized. The fundamental principle is that a Palestinian state will fulfill the national aspirations of all Palestinians - including the refugees, and including Israeli Arabs. But in order for this principle to be implemented, it is necessary to find answers to the question of the capital and the demand for the refugees' return. If no such answers are found - the talks will continue. Either the process will reach a conclusion, or it will continue. An explosion like the one that followed the Camp David summit is inconceivable. The foreign minister's intellectual libido has been invested almost exclusively in the negotiations with the Palestinians. On the issues of Iran, Syria and Hamas, Livni has no crystallized views. Nor does she have any about the approaching economic crisis. Yet when the candidate talks with her associates about the next government's agenda, she raises a plethora of ideas, some of which contain surprises. First of all comes changing the electoral system. The democratic Livni has reached the conclusion that there is no choice but to adopt the Netanyahu-Lieberman line of thought and establish a presidential system. The current system is untenable. There is a serious problem of governability. Therefore, it is necessary to enact changes that will ensure that ministers obey the prime minister rather than thwart him. An immediate revolution in the system of government will top the Livni government's agenda. Livni is also demanding reforms with regard to the rule of law. When she served as justice minister, she thought the Supreme Court was too strong and too uniform. She has not changed her mind since. She shares neither the rhetoric nor the zeal of current justice minister Daniel Friedmann, but she does not reject his worldview. Among other things, she supports splitting the attorney general's job in two. As prime minister, Livni would not hasten to replace law professor Friedmann, but would try to moderate and refine him. Because she herself is not tarred with corruption, she believes that a Livni-Friedmann partnership would not inflame tempers the way the Olmert-Friedmann partnership did. He will make less noise, but produce more results. Somewhat belatedly, the vice premier has discovered the dire crisis in the education system. The foreign minister has not found time to study the issue in depth. She is not well-versed in the details and has no clear plan. Nevertheless, immediately after she forms a government, she will tackle education, by appointing the best people to lead an educational revolution. Not only Netanyahu and Ehud Barak and Uriel Reichman and Avishay Braverman can do it. Livni can, too. She cares deeply about the future of education. What characterizes the front-runner is a degree of obtuseness as a leader and enormous self-confidence. Livni does not know any other candidate whose judgment is better than hers. She does not know any other experienced candidate whose experience does him credit. The fact that her plans are somewhat vague does not bother her. In her view, a diplomatic breakthrough, a revolution in the system of government, legal reforms and educational improvements comprise a more than sufficient agenda for the new government she intends to establish. But above all, Livni believes in the sanity she is offering. With her, there will be no male ego games or macho competitions. With her, decisions will be made normally and the considerations will be substantive. Therefore, she is in a hurry; she wants to get to work. Livni feels that she is now the great white hope, and this hope empowers and obligates her. But here and there, this hope nevertheless drowns her in fear and trembling. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Tears of joy Shahar Zubari's bronze medal was Israel's first of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. 'Germ of corruption' Mahmoud Ahmadinejad repeats his prediction that Israel will be wiped off the map.   1.   Political additional tempest in Near East 13:29  |  H.H.M. 20/08/08   2.   What the h--- is Shavit aiming at...?! 16:58  |  Esther 20/08/08   3.   If Livni Believes She can Win Then Shes Delusional 17:05  |  Shepherd 20/08/08   4.   response to # 1 HHM 17:14  |  Dish it Out 20/08/08   5.   And don`t forget 17:44  |  Afikoman 20/08/08   6.   Ann Landers, wise, though fictitious, advice columnist 21:34  |  Christopher Rushlau 20/08/08   7.   Well this is news to us that Tzipi Livni is more proactive about 03:03  |  Smadar 21/08/08

Read & React Olmert: No restraint if Lebanon becomes Hezbollah state Responses: 198 Ex-Mossad chief: Ahmadinejad is Israel's greatest gift Responses: 59 Gaza women training as suicide bombers in case truce ends Responses: 138 Religious modesty guard 'enjoys support of rabbis and police' Responses: 62 More Headlines 02:56 Anti-terror unit issues overseas kidnapping alert 03:14 'I won't be shouting that I'm Israeli' - tourists react to Hezbollah threat 00:03 On eve of Assad visit to Moscow, Olmert, Medvedev discuss Mideast, Caucasus 22:08 Olmert to Zubari: Your Olympic win brings tears of joy to Israel 22:24 Ahmadinejad: Israel is a germ of corruption that will be removed 00:20 Rice: Russian reaction to U.S.-Polish missile shield agreement bizarre 03:35 New edition of '90210' TV show has Jews, Iranians among the student body 12:39 Religious modesty guard 'enjoys support of rabbis and police' 19:31 Jordan acknowledges holding secret meetings with Hamas 22:54 West Galilee Hospital's newest donor is a 9-year-old boy 20:08 More than 140 people killed in Madrid plane crash 14:25 Hamas threatens to turn Shalit into 'second Ron Arad' Previous Editions Select Day 20 aug 19 aug 18 aug 17 aug 15 aug 14 aug 13 aug 12 aug 11 aug 10 aug 08 aug 07 aug

Special Offers Advertisement Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. Jewish Singles Personal Ads Find the love of your life on JDate.com MBA in Israel in English APPLY NOW! Limited spaces available Israel's Premier Real Estate Website www. israel-property.com Your vacation starts here Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved