Former foreign minister Tzipi Livni quits Knesset

TZIPI LIVNI, who served as Israel’s foreign minister and, until recently, head of the opposition, has resigned from the Knesset, with a stark warning that Israel’s future as a Jewish and democratic state is in danger.

Ms Livni (53) had remained tight-lipped over her political future since she lost the leadership of the centrist Kadima party in a March primary contest to former general Shaul Mofaz.

Announcing her resignation from the Knesset yesterday, she said she would continue in public life “because Israel is too precious for me to just drop everything.” She expressed regret over the failure to clinch a peace deal with the Palestinians when she served as foreign minister in the government of Ehud Olmert and warned that the current government led by Binyamin Netanyahu was eroding Israel’s standing.

“The Israeli-Palestinian conflict does not top the current government’s priorities, but even if this is currently out of fashion, it is incumbent upon us to reach a permanent status agreement,” she said. “The clock is ticking and our continued existence as a Jewish and democratic state is under threat, but the leadership continues to bury its head in the sand and subscribes to a policy of tricks and spin.”

Ms Livni’s political career was one of missed opportunities. After serving as a Likud minister she helped Ariel Sharon set up Kadima in 2005 as a centrist alternative.

Taking over as Kadima leader when prime minister Ehud Olmert stepped down to face corruption allegations, she led the party in the 2009 elections, winning 28 seats to the Likud’s 27. However, even though Kadima was the largest party, she failed to put together a coalition, leaving the path open for Mr Netanyahu to become prime minister for a second term.

Speaking yesterday she took the moral high ground and said she had no regrets about “not backing down in the face of political blackmail” and for “not being willing to sell the country to the ultra-Orthodox in order to form a government”.

Speculation was rife that Ms Livni might end up joining a new centrist party set up by former news anchor Yair Lapid.

Early elections are almost certain, although contacts over a date have been put on hold during the one-week Jewish mourning period being observed by Mr Netanyahu following the death of his father on Monday. However, Likud sources predicted a September 4th election.