Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 12/2008

PolicyWatch #1403: Livni's Outlook: Political and Policy Options in Israel

David Makovsky

September 2008

The Washington Institute for Near East Policy

Abstract

In the wake of Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni's narrow Kadima party victory over Shaul Mofaz last week, Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert resigned on Sunday night. The following day, Israeli president Shimon Peres asked Livni to form a new governing coalition, but if she is unable to do so in the next six weeks, Israel will head for new elections. Regardless of the coalition's makeup, prospects remain bleak in the short term for a breakthrough on either the Palestinian or Syrian track.