With Olmert’s Resignation, What Next for Israel and Lebanon?
With Ehud Olmert’s resignation finalized, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni began forming her new government immediately in hopes of becoming Israel’s second female prime minister. Mark Lavie writing in in the Washington Post, mentions that Olmert was suffering from terrible approval ratings that almost reached single digits and Israelis did not want him representing their interests in dealing with the Palestinians. Livni is a proponent of negotiations and concessions to come to a peace agreement and could be just what Israel needs to make peace with its neighbors in the Middle East.
Olmert came into power after Ariel Sharon suffered a stroke. Only weeks after taking control, he led Israel into a war with Hezbollah in Lebanon. Olmert lost much of his popular support after this war because there was extensive damage in Israel and Lebanon and there was no real victor.
Livni wants to increase stability in Israel and to do that, peace in the region is required. With this new leader in place, Lebanon could possibly reach a peace agreement with Israel and prevent further fighting on that border. It would benefit Lebanon greatly to make peace with Israel, with all of the conflicts going on within the country between various sectarian groups, and all the violence that comes from being the middle-man for various other neighbors in the region.
Samantha Foley
