Olmert Resigns; Livni to Succeed

Fox:

JERUSALEM — Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni wasted no time Sunday working to put together a new government, meeting with potential coalition partners even as outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert formally handed in his resignation. Her ability to move fast in her first task could have far-reaching effects on peace talks with the Palestinians.

Livni, who has gained respect for favoring peace deals with the Palestinians and Syria while distancing herself from the unpopular Olmert, would become Israel's second female prime minister after Golda Meir, who served from 1969-1974.

Livni met leaders from the pivotal Shas Party Thursday, hours after she won a primary election to succeed Olmert as head of their Kadima Party ...

Jerusalem Post:

New Kadima leader Tzipi Livni thanked Prime Minster Ehud Olmert for his offer to assist her in the coalition-building process and insisted that there were no splits in Kadima, she told her faction prior to Sunday's cabinet meeting.

Debka:

Transport minister Shaul Mofaz’s announcement of time out from politics and his public duties after he lost the Kadima leadership primary to foreign minister Tzipi Livni by a single percent has seriously divided the party. His supporters claim he was treated unfairly by the party and media, all of which promoted Livni and impugned his credibility.

The many Mofaz loyalists who are uncomfortable with the foreign minister’s views and personality may drift out of the party - some returning to Likud. Kadima which went into the election top-heavy looks like losing the few soldiers (only 74,000 registered voters) it had.

Her party's shrinkage further compounds the already daunting task facing the new Kadima chairwoman in taking over the incumbent government from Ehud Olmert, who is committed to quit after the primary, or forming a new coalition.