Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 12/2008

PolicyWatch #1429: Livni vs. Netanyahu: From One Election to the Next

David Makovsky

November 2008

The Washington Institute for Near East Policy

Abstract

On February 10, Israelis head to their first national election in nearly three years. With the exception of the 1977 election, this will be the only Israeli campaign in which no incumbent has run for the office of prime minister. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni leads the Kadima party, which is neck and neck with Binyamin Netanyahu's Likud party; each is expected to garner approximately 30 seats in the 120-member Israeli parliament. Since their views on the peace process differ, the election's outcome will directly affect U.S. regional policy and the future of the Annapolis process.