Tzipi Livni - Moti Milrod - 27.3.2012
Tzipi Livni is waiting for a sign regarding her return to poltiics, rather than determining her own destiny. Photo by Moti Milrod
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Ophir Bar-Zohar
Ophir Bar-Zohar

Tzipi Livni is scheduled to meet Knesset Speaker Rivlin later Tuesday, where political sources estimate will submit her resignation from the Knesset following a recent loss to Shaul Mofaz in the Kadima primary.

The former foreign minister has reportedly updated aides and party officials of her intention to resign during the meeting.

The reported decision came despite the fact that in a meeting between Livni and Mofaz last week, the newly anointed Kadima head reportedly reiterated his view that Livni should stay in the party.

Initial estimates as to the possibility of a split in Kadima following Livni's election loss were seemingly made impossible following her resounding defeat at the hands of Mofaz, who won the election.

In the March vote, Mofaz won 61.7 percent - a total of 23,987 votes, while Livni, a foreign minister under former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert took 37.23 percent - a total of 14,516 votes.

his victory speech, Mofaz told those gathered at the Kadima party headquarters that the party would replace the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel's next elections, and appealed to Israelis to have faith in the party's new journey "to the Israel we lost, that we dreamt about, that can be different."

He emphasized the need for a strong and united party following the primaries, and called on Livni to join him in the effort to "return Israel to the right path."

"Tzipi, your place is with us," he said.

In response to Livni's reported intent to resign, Kadima MK Yohanan Plesner said he was "sorry to hear of Livni's expected resignation. I respect her decision and thank her for her significant contribution in forming and stabilizing Kadima."

"Kadima is important for Livni and I believe she'll find the way to be part of us, even if it isn't from the Knesset's floor," Plesner said.