Members of Israel's ruling Kadima party have elected Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni to be their new leader, exit polls suggest.
Members of Israel's ruling Kadima party have elected Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni to be their new leader, exit polls suggest.
Two television exit polls suggested that Ms Livni beat Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz by a margin of 48% to 37%.
Two television exit polls suggested that Ms Livni beat Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz by a margin of 48% to 37%.
Voting in the election officially closed at 1930 GMT.
Voting in the election officially closed at 1930 GMT.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who resigned over corruption allegations, has said he will step down from the post after his successor is chosen.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who is resigning amid corruption allegations, will step down from the post after his successor is chosen.
Exit polls have a long and inglorious history in Israeli elections and should be treated with caution, says the BBC's Tim Franks in Tel Aviv.
Exit polls have a long and inglorious history in Israeli elections and should be treated with caution, says the BBC's Tim Franks in Tel Aviv.
However, the scene in Tzipi Livni's campaign headquarters was one of jubilation.
However, the scene in Tzipi Livni's campaign headquarters was one of jubilation.
The foreign minister 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 says.
The foreign minister 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 says.
But even if there is a clear winner out of the vote, their work will only have just begun - they will have six weeks to form a governing coalition, no easy task.
But even if there is a clear winner out of the vote, their work will only have just begun - they will have six weeks to form a governing coalition, which is no easy task, our correspondent adds.
In the meantime, even though he is no longer party leader, Ehud Olmert will remain prime minister.
In the meantime, even though he is no longer party leader, Ehud Olmert will remain prime minister.
Call for change
Ms Livni, a former Mossad spy, is widely criticised for her lack of political experience.
Casting her vote in Tel Aviv, Ms Livni appealed to party members who had had "enough of old-time politics".
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.
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.
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.
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