Livni wins Kadima leadership battle

ISRAELI foreign minister Tzipi Livni won a clear majority in the Kadima party’s primary election yesterday, TV exit polls showed — placing her in a good position to become the first female leader in 34 years and sending a message that peace talks with the Palestinians will proceed.

Cheers and applause broke out at party headquarters when Israel’s three TV networks announced their exit polls giving Livni between 47% and 49%, compared with 37% for her closest rival, former defence minister, Shaul Mofaz. Livni supporters hugged each other and shed tears of joy.

Livni needed 40% of the vote to avoid a run-off next week.