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Not run-of-the-mill legislator for long By Shahar Ilan Tzipi Livni did not spend much time as a run-of-the-mill Knesset member. She was first elected in May 1999, and less than two years later, was already a minister in Ariel Sharon's first government. Yet even in her limited time as a legislator, she managed to make a significant impression on Amnon Rubinstein, then a Meretz MK and chairman of the Knesset Constitution Committee: He asked the prime minister to appoint her as justice minister. Advertisement However, Livni initially had to settle for the regional cooperation portfolio. She arrived at the Justice Ministry only at the end of 2004, after the Shinui Party's ministers resigned from the government. "Livni didn't take much initiative as a Knesset member, but she was active and intelligent," Rubinstein said. "Her approach was pragmatic and rational, and not unduly influenced by partisan positions." In recent years, Knesset members have seemed as quick to propose new bills as to shoot them down. Livni, however, authored only five bills of her own, and co-sponsored another 22 - including six that would have amended a Basic Law. Of particular interest was her (unsuccessful) attempt to repeal the Law of Return's "grandchild clause," a 1970 amendment that allows immigrants with one Jewish grandparent to receive automatic Israeli citizenship. When Sharon appointed her immigrant absorption minister in 2003, he told her in no uncertain terms that changes to the Law of Return were not within her purview. She would probably rather forget her support for another bill, which would have required a referendum on any agreement with the Palestinians. Had it passed, it would now be threatening to tie her own hands. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Iranian suspects Argentina asks Iran to hand over suspects in 1994 Jewish center bombing. Einstein's telescope Physicist's telescope renovated and on display to the public at Hebrew University.

Read & React Bradley Burston: Erasing Ahmadinejad from the map Responses: 127 Poll: 28% of Palestinians back idea of joint state with Jordan Responses: 62 IDF officer kills terrorist who rammed car into crowd in Jerusalem Responses: 238 ANALYSIS / Another attack in Jerusalem - get ready for more Responses: 113 Iraqi MP may face death sentence for Israel visit Responses: 67 More Headlines 01:10 Ahmadinejad: Zionist regime is on a slope to decline 22:29 Peres at UN: World in danger if Iran produces nuclear bomb 00:02 Livni to Qureia: Israel will respond with force to Palestinian terror 21:45 Top adviser: McCain would not get in way of Israel-Syria talks 23:25 Charge Ahmadinejad with incitement to genocide, say former U.S., Israeli envoys to UN 00:49 This Hyphenated Life / How a little humor can save the world 00:42 Five Palestinians killed after Egyptian forces detonate smuggling tunnels 21:41 Fatah official: Group could agree to Hamas rule in Gaza Strip 19:12 Einstein's lost telescope to go on display at Hebrew University 23:08 Netanyahu: Israel owes Olmert a debt of gratitude 22:07 VIDEO / Father of Jerusalem attacker: My son's no terrorist 20:43 Argentina asks Iran to hand over suspects in 1994 Jewish center bombing 22:12 VIDEO / Syria's Assad calls for Israel-Syria talks to continue 19:27 Two Israelis and a Palestinian - conquering Everest together 18:54 Sources: Mofaz to decide political future after Rosh Hashanah Previous Editions Select Day 23 sep 22 sep 21 sep 19 sep 18 sep 17 sep 16 sep 15 sep 14 sep 12 sep 11 sep 10 sep

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