Israel: The Political Collapse of Opposition Leader Livni?

Israeli politics is in the midst of a political shift which could doom opposition leader Tzipi Livni.

Amidst Livni's accusation that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been trying to split her Kadima Party and the reaction of Netanyahu's associates that it was "actually Livni herself trying to ditch [Netanyahu's] Likud [Party]," at least six Kadima members of the Israeli Parliament, the Knesset, signed a document for Netanyahu's adviser Yitzhak Molho last week, committing themselves to leave Kadima.

The legislators that leave Kadima are expected to form a new faction.. As soon as they number seven, which is the minimum legal requirement to split off from the party, each of those who then move to Likud will become a minister, deputy minister, or Knesset committee chairman.

Livni has been in a very difficult position because of her inability to unite her party against the bill for a referendum on the Golan Heights, taken from Syria in the 1967 war. The recent British arrest warrant for Livni was seen as a stroke of luck for her. However, it now appears that the "secret transfer war" between Kadima and Likud will be a victory for Netyanahu and possibly the political downfall of Livni.

The Prime Minister is playing the internal game well. His strong criticisms of the Goldstone Report on the Gaza War, harsh discourse on Iran, warnings to the Lebanese government, and, most importantly, his "one-time and temporary" emphasis on the settlement freeze --- standing up to a US Government which sees this as an "inconvenience" --- have met the demands of his center-right constituency. Livni, on the other hand, now looks a politician without a base.

Today on EA - Monday 21 December 2009

Iran: Grand Ayatollah Montazeri's funeral, attended by hundreds of thousands, dominates the news. Our liveblog will keep you up to date with the news, and we have video footage from the funeral in Qom and demonstrations in other cities. There is also video and English translation of an interview with Montazeri's son Saeed, speaking about his late father's last words and views.

A guest blog from Iran Review offers an in-depth look at Tehran's current perspective on nuclear talks.

Israel: Following a meeting with Egypt's intelligence chief Omar Suleiman, Israel's Foreign Minister Lieberman made the stunning statement:  "Egypt has more to fear from Iran than we do".

Israel/Palestine: Ali Yenidunya reveals that Hamas "provided evidence" for the British arrest warrant for Israeli opposition leader Tzipi Livni.

Israel-Palestine: Hamas "Provided Evidence" for Arrest Warrant for Livni

According to Agence France Presse, a committee was set up by Hamas to aid European lawyers to investigate war crimes allegedly committed during the Gaza offensive in last December.

Judge Diya al-Madhun, the head of the committee, said:

We provide documents, reports and evidence of crimes to all international bodies aiding the Palestinian people in bringing Israeli civilian and military leaders to trial and issuing warrants for their arrest.

We have provided a group of independent lawyers in Britain with documents, information and evidence concerning war crimes committed by Israeli political and military leaders, including [opposition leader Tzipi] Livni.

Today on EA (17 December)

Iran: We're keeping track of the latest developments on our LiveBlog. Today, however, is quieter so far than yesterday, when threats and responses are flying between the regime, Hashemi Rafsanjani, and the Green movement. We've assessed the significance in a special analysis.

One of the threats came from the head of Iran's judiciary, Sadegh Larijani, who said he had enough evidence to bring charges against opposition figures. We've got the video of his speech.

We've also got video of an interview with a purported Basiji militiaman, who has fled to Britain, alleging abuse of detainees and rigging of the Presidential vote. And we've posted lawyer and activist Shirin Ebadi's special comment on the "We are All in Hejab" movement sparked by the arrest of Majid Tavakoli.

Israel: Ali Yenidunya picks up on the effective confirmation of Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas as indefinite President of the West Bank. He also asks if the Britain Government's apology over the arrest warrant issued against former Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is a de facto endorsement of the Israeli war in Gaza a year ago.

Israel-Palestine Analysis: Did Britain Just Endorse Israel's "Moral" War in Gaza?

Following British Foreign Minister David Miliband's emphasis on the "strategic partnership" between Israel and Britain, Prime Minister Gordon Brown telephoned former Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on Wednesday and expressed his objection to the arrest warrant issued by a London court against her. Brown stated that Livni is always welcome in the United Kingdom and assured Livni that his government will seek to change the legal system.

Israel and Britain: The Reaction to the Livni Arrest Warrant

Meanwhile, eight IDF soldiers received medals of honor on the same day for heroism they showed during Operation Cast Lead last year.Major-General Yoav Galant underlined the "moral values" of the Israeli Defense Forces, with its soldiers committed to preserving these values even during the offensive in the Gaza Strip. Galant said:

The IDF reached its goals. The enemy was badly beaten. IDF soldiers acted out of faith in the justice of our cause, and their moral norms are praiseworthy. In the tough hours of the trial through fire you bravely and resiliently persevered. You are a lighthouse of morality and values.

So, does Brown's apology to Livni constitute a British endorsement of Israel's "moral" war in Gaza?