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| Version 15 | Version 16 |
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| Livni to lead Israel ruling party | Livni to lead Israel ruling party |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Tzipi Livni has won the vote to become the new leader of Israel's ruling Kadima party, officials say. | |
| The foreign minister beat Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz by a much narrower margin than the nine percentage points the exit polls had suggested. | The foreign minister beat Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz by a much narrower margin than the nine percentage points the exit polls had suggested. |
| Ms Livni earlier told supporters in a radio broadcast that "the good guys" had won after the ballot by members of the party. | Ms Livni earlier told supporters in a radio broadcast that "the good guys" had won after the ballot by members of the party. |
| Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is resigning amid corruption allegations. | Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is resigning amid corruption allegations. |
| Two television exit polls had suggested Ms Livni beat Mr Mofaz by a margin of 48% to 37%. | Two television exit polls had suggested Ms Livni beat Mr Mofaz by a margin of 48% to 37%. |
| But the BBC's Tim Franks in Jerusalem says that as the results rolled in, Ms Livni's camp was admitting it was far narrower. | But the BBC's Tim Franks in Jerusalem says that as the results rolled in, Ms Livni's camp was admitting it was far narrower. |
| I just want afterwards not to disappoint any of you Tzipi LivniSpeaking after claiming victory Israel's 'Ms Clean' | I just want afterwards not to disappoint any of you Tzipi LivniSpeaking after claiming victory Israel's 'Ms Clean' |
| Official results showed Ms Livni had won by 43.1% to 42%. | |
| If confirmed, Ms Livni will now have about six weeks to form a new coalition, during which time Mr Olmert will remain prime minister. | If confirmed, Ms Livni will now have about six weeks to form a new coalition, during which time Mr Olmert will remain prime minister. |
| If she can form a coalition Ms Livni, 50, will become Israel's first woman prime minister in more than 30 years. | If she can form a coalition Ms Livni, 50, will become Israel's first woman prime minister in more than 30 years. |
| The early scene in her campaign headquarters was one of jubilation and our correspondent says even Mr Olmert phoned his congratulations. | The early scene in her campaign headquarters was one of jubilation and our correspondent says even Mr Olmert phoned his congratulations. |
| Ms Livni is regarded as being more dovish than Mr Mofaz, when it comes both to dealing with the Palestinians and possibly to her readiness to order military action against Iran, our correspondent reports. | Ms Livni is regarded as being more dovish than Mr Mofaz, when it comes both to dealing with the Palestinians and possibly to her readiness to order military action against Iran, our correspondent reports. |
| Iran concern | Iran concern |
| In a conference call, Ms Livni thanked her supporters for their efforts and pledged not to let them down. | In a conference call, Ms Livni thanked her supporters for their efforts and pledged not to let them down. |
| "You were just incredible," she said. | "You were just incredible," she said. |
| "And the good guys won... I just want afterwards not to disappoint any of you and to do all the right things that you fought for." | "And the good guys won... I just want afterwards not to disappoint any of you and to do all the right things that you fought for." |
| WHAT HAPPENS NEXT Ehud Olmert formally resigns as prime minister and his cabinet resigns with himPresident consults parties to pick a Knesset member to form a new cabinet - expected to be the Kadima leaderThe prime minister-designate has 42 days to form a coalition acceptable to parliamentIf no coalition is formed, general election must be held in 90 daysMr Olmert remains prime minister until the Knesset approves a new government Q&A: Israeli leadership change | WHAT HAPPENS NEXT Ehud Olmert formally resigns as prime minister and his cabinet resigns with himPresident consults parties to pick a Knesset member to form a new cabinet - expected to be the Kadima leaderThe prime minister-designate has 42 days to form a coalition acceptable to parliamentIf no coalition is formed, general election must be held in 90 daysMr Olmert remains prime minister until the Knesset approves a new government Q&A: Israeli leadership change |
| Critics say Ms Livni, a former Mossad spy, lacks political experience. | Critics say Ms Livni, a former Mossad spy, lacks political experience. |
| Shmuel Sandler, professor at the Begin-Sadat Centre for Strategic Studies, noted: | Shmuel Sandler, professor at the Begin-Sadat Centre for Strategic Studies, noted: |
| "[Ms Livni] is a good choice as far as Israel's foreign relations are concerned, but there is still the tension with Iran. I am not so sure how much experience she has for such matters and if she will be able to take the right decisions. | "[Ms Livni] is a good choice as far as Israel's foreign relations are concerned, but there is still the tension with Iran. I am not so sure how much experience she has for such matters and if she will be able to take the right decisions. |
| "She looks like 'Mrs Clean'... but she will still have to form a coalition," he told Reuters news agency. | "She looks like 'Mrs Clean'... but she will still have to form a coalition," he told Reuters news agency. |
| "It is very difficult to predict whether she will be a strong prime minister." | "It is very difficult to predict whether she will be a strong prime minister." |
| Kadima was formed three years ago when former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon split from Likud to draw together support from left and right for his policy of unilateral withdrawals from the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank. | Kadima was formed three years ago when former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon split from Likud to draw together support from left and right for his policy of unilateral withdrawals from the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank. |
| But its poll ratings fell as a stroke left Mr Sharon in a coma. | But its poll ratings fell as a stroke left Mr Sharon in a coma. |
| His successor, Mr Olmert, faced strong criticism of his handling of the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war and he was investigated in several corruption scandals. | His successor, Mr Olmert, faced strong criticism of his handling of the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war and he was investigated in several corruption scandals. |
| Polls now suggest Likud could win a potential general election, which would take place if a coalition government cannot be formed in the wake of the Kadima leadership vote. | Polls now suggest Likud could win a potential general election, which would take place if a coalition government cannot be formed in the wake of the Kadima leadership vote. |
| The Kadima election comes as the US government is continuing its push for an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal before President George W Bush leaves office in January. | The Kadima election comes as the US government is continuing its push for an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal before President George W Bush leaves office in January. |
| Mr Olmert and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas held talks on Tuesday and a spokesman for the outgoing prime minister said the two would continue to meet until a new government was sworn in. | Mr Olmert and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas held talks on Tuesday and a spokesman for the outgoing prime minister said the two would continue to meet until a new government was sworn in. |
| Are you in Israel and are you following events? Send us your views using the postform below. | Are you in Israel and are you following events? Send us your views using the postform below. |