Israel poised for first female leader in 34 years

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(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-09-18 15:39

JERUSALEM -- Israel's foreign minister won a narrow victory early Thursday to be head of the country's governing party, giving her the chance to be the nation's first female leader in 34 years and sending a message that peace talks with the Palestinians could likely continue.

Israel's Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni (C) speaks during a supporters rally for her Kadima party leadership campaign September 14, 2008. [Agencies]

Tzipi Livni, 50, won by a margin of 431 votes, a 1.1 percentage point, in the Kadima Party primary elections, besting former defense minister and military chief Shaul Mofaz.

Livni will replace Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as head of Kadima. Olmert, the target of a career-ending corruption probe, promised to step down as soon as a new Kadima leader was chosen.

"The national responsibility (bestowed) by the public brings me to approach this job with great awe," Livni said shortly after officials results were announced. She now gets a chance to set up Israel's next government.

The victory declaration came after official results showed Livni taking the race by a far narrower victory than polls had predicted. She barely edged out Mofaz. Israeli media reported that Mofaz called Livni to congratulate her, and rejected a legal adviser's proposal that he appeal the results.

Three TV exit polls released just before the voting ended Wednesday night had showed a clear victory for Livni over Mofaz, about 47 percent to 37 percent, leading to premature celebrations.

But official results saw that margin shrink dramatically, to 43.1 percent for Livni and 42 percent for Mofaz, a 431-vote edge. This was not the first time exit polls have badly missed their mark here.

Livni had needed 40 percent of the vote to avoid a runoff next week.

After she is assigned the task, Livni will have 42 days to form a new ruling coalition. If she succeeds, she will become Israel's first female prime minister since Golda Meir. If she fails, the country will hold elections in early 2009, a year and a half ahead of schedule.

Olmert will remain as a caretaker leader until a new coalition is approved by parliament.

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