WILL LIVNI BE ISRAEL'S NEXT PRIME MINISTER? This op-ed in the Wall Street Journal by Fania Oz-Salzberger--Leon Liberman Chair of Modern Israel Studies at Monash University and a senior lecturer in history at the University of Haifa--is pleased by the prospect:

Despite current accusations of wishy-washiness, she is still considered by many voters to be the stuff prime ministers are made of. If not now, a little later--assuming Kadima survives. Ms. Livni has the distinction of being Israel's least-hated leader, widely trusted and considered a spotless and serious stateswoman. The president is suspended and faces likely prosecution on rape, and both prime minister and finance minister are suspected of corruption; Ms. Livni's slate, by contrast, is glaringly clean. A good number of Israelis have considered her a viable heir to Mr. Olmert, and now, in the eye of the storm, many of her party members and supporters still do.

Contrast that will Israel Matzav's Why Feigele can't be Prime Minister.

Technorati Tag: Hamas and Gaza.