Former Foreign Minister, MK (Machane Tzioni) Tzipi Livni, is assuming the role of opposition leader, replacing Yitzchak Herzog, who has accepted the appointment as head of the Jewish Agency for Israel. Many believed that MK (Machane Tzioni) Shelly Yacimovich would receive the appointment, but in the end, Livni is filling the void.

The official announcement was made on Monday by party leader Avi Gabbai, who cannot assume the post himself as he is not a MK. He was a minister in the Kulanu party but resigned and quit the Knesset in protest in 2016, unwilling to accept the appointment of Avigdor Lieberman as defense minister. He was however successful in his bid for the leadership of the Machane Tzioni party, despite being an outside candidate.

Gabbai sited that Livni is a veteran in Knesset and brings a wealth of experience as they are working to provide an alternative to the current government, with an emphasis on matters of diplomacy and security.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)