Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice meets with Tzipi Livini, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel, at the U.S. State Department, February 14, 2008. Photo: US State Department

Sam Bahour, a Palestinian-American businessman originally from Youngstown, Ohio, has lived in the occupied Palestinian territories for the last 15 years. Mr. Bahour said he was “indifferent” to Mrs. Livni’s victory, and believes that no matter who is put forth by the Israelis, they really represent “more of the same.”

“I’m rather indifferent since the Israeli leadership, across the political spectrum, have proven with their actions, beyond a reasonable doubt, that they do not have the political will to abide by international law and end their illegal occupation of Palestinians. The narrow victory just reflects internal Israeli competition on which one is more extreme in their politics. Palestinians have no partner for a just peace in Israel,” Mr. Bahour wrote in an e-mailed interview with The Final Call from Palestine.

“She has been part of the Olmert regime and has met over 120 times in the current negotiations thrust. She has made public statements during this period that clearly defy international law and common sense to anyone wanting to realize peace with justice. Furthermore, for those that closely follow Israeli politics, they are betting that she will be a very short-term prime minister given the ridiculously complex task ahead of her in forming a stable government. Israel’s illegal settler community and ultra orthodox’s grip on the political system will keep Israel in a constant state of leadership change, thus prohibiting any real movement on the issue of ending the occupation, assuming Israel produces a leader that desired such,” Mr. Bahour added.

Livni, a 50-year-old former Mossad agent, is described as a tough and determined woman who is looked upon as a clean break from those tainted with allegations of impropriety that have recently followed many of Israel’s top politicians.

In 2007, Mrs. Livni challenged Prime Minister Ehud Olmert calling on him to resign primarily citing the failed Israeli military effort in the 2006 Lebanon War with Hezbollah. At the time, Mr. Olmert refused, but when allegations of questionable financial dealings arose, pressure increased and on Sept. 21, Mr. Olmert resigned.

Mr. Olmert had been the Prime Minister since former PM Ariel Sharon became unable to serve after suffering a stroke in January 2006. Sharon went into a coma and is currently in a persistent vegetative state, according to Israeli medical officials.

A member of the Israeli Knesset for close to a decade, Mrs. Livni supported her mentor Ariel Sharon after he led the unpopular withdrawal of Israeli settlers from the Gaza Strip. She continued in his footsteps following him when he left the Likud political party and formed the Kadima political party—of which she is now ostensibly the leader.

Both of Mrs. Livin’s parents were members of the ultranationalist Irgun—the Jewish underground terrorists who fought British rule in Palestine prior to the establishment of the state of Israel. Mrs. Livni ranked 52nd in the Forbes 2008 list of the “100 Most Powerful Women.”

If she is successful, Mrs. Livni will be the first female Prime Minister since Golda Meir held the office from 1969-74. If a coalition government cannot be formed within the next month, an early election will probably take place in early 2009. Mrs. Livni’s likely opponent would be the leader of the conservative Likud Party, Benjamin Netanyahu.