Tzipi (Tzipora) Livni was born in Tel Aviv to parents who were former members of the Irgun, a pre-state, right-wing paramilitary organization. She served as a lieutenant in the IDF and later worked for the Mossad.
A graduate of Bar-Ilan University’s Faculty of Law, Livni practiced public and commercial law for 10 years before entering politics in 1996 as a member of the Likud Party.
In 1999 she became a Knesset member for the first time on the Likud Party ticket. When Ariel Sharon became prime minister in July 2001, Livni was named Minister of Regional Cooperation. She went on to hold various Cabinet posts, including Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development; Minister of Immigrant Absorption; and Minister of Housing and Construction. In 2005, she was given the Justice Ministry portfolio.
In late 2005, Livni joined Ariel Sharon and Ehud Olmert in their move from Likud to the newly formed centrist Kadima Party, which she helped create. In May 2006, Livni was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, serving in that capacity until March 2009. She was only the second woman in Israeli history (along with Golda Meir) to have held the foreign ministry portfolio. She took over as head of Kadima in 2008, after a leadership race triggered by Olmert's resignation over corruption charges.
Despite Kadima narrowly winning the most Knesset seats in the 2009 general elections, Livni was unable to form a coalition government, paving the way for the establishment of Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud-led government. Livni assumed the role as head of the opposition, and earned both praise and criticism for refusing to join the Netanyahu government.
Throughout her tenure as opposition leader, Livni has been outspoken in her criticisms of the Netanyahu government’s policies regarding final status talks with the Palestinians. Initially opposed to a two-state solution with the Palestinians early in her political career, Livni is now a champion of that policy. However, she has voiced her support over the government’s handling of the Iranian nuclear weapon issue.
Livni had been pushing to publicize how cabinet members vote; lack of transparency allows applying pressure on ministers, stymie legislative initiatives without public monitoring.
by Ido Baum 1 comments
Restricting the kinds of cases the judge could rule on is enough for Livni and Grunis, according to reports.
by Revital Hovel 1 comments
Streisand is currently visiting Israel for the first time since 1984, receiving an honorary Ph.D. at Hebrew University, celebrating President Shimon Peres' 90th birthday, and performing for fans.
by The Associated Press and Dafna Arad 23 comments
PM supports designation as 'forbidden organization' but opposes classification as terror, claiming it would increase Israel's delegitimization and damage its international standing.
by Barak Ravid 18 comments
Same proposal was dropped in last Knesset after AG warned it was discriminatory and unconstitutional.
by Jonathan Lis 2 comments
Ministers to revisit the wording of the bill, which would provide solutions for partners forbidden to wed under religious law.
by Jonathan Lis 3 comments
Before civil partnership bill goes up for vote in Ministerial Committee for Legislation, Justice Minister Livni and her Hatnuah party will introduce new clause where words 'man and a woman' are substituted by the more general term 'couple.'
by Jonathan Lis 3 comments
Likud MK Yariv Levin bemoans members of the coalition "systematically seeking to hamper each other instead of working together."
by Jonathan Lis 0 comments
Shas vows to torpedo the candidate favored by Naftali Bennett.
by Jonathan Lis and Yair Ettinger 0 comments
Bill would require lobbyists to report to the Knesset speaker.
by Zvi Zrahiya 0 comments
