JERUSALEM: Israeli lawmaker and former minister Tzipi Livni was named leader of the opposition on Monday, a joint statement by her and the head of the Labour party said.
Once a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud, Livni quit the party in 2005.
The 59-year-old replaces as opposition leader former Labour chief Isaac Herzog, who resigned his seat in parliament to become head of the Jewish Agency, the quasi-governmental body that deals with Jewish immigration to Israel.
Labour is the largest single opposition party in the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, but its chairman Avi Gabbay is barred from serving as opposition leader as he is not a lawmaker.
Livni has extensive government experience, having served as foreign minister, justice minister, deputy premier and immigration minister.
After quitting Netanyahu’s Likud, she joined the more centrist Kadima set up by Ariel Sharon.
The veteran politician headed Kadima from 2008 to 2012, before setting up a new party, center-left Hatnua (The Movement).
Ahead of the last general elections in 2015, Hatnua allied with Labour to form the Zionist Union, winning 24 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, to become the largest opposition force.
Also in opposition to Netanyahu’s coalition government are the left-wing Meretz party, centrist Yesh Atid, the mainly Arab Joint List alliance and independent MP Orly Levi-Abekasis.
Former minister Livni named Israel opposition leader
Former minister Livni named Israel opposition leader
Israel first responders say woman killed after Iran missile attack in Tel Aviv area
- AFPTV images showed a street flanked by residential buildings whose facades were destroyed by blasts, as well as burnt out cars
TEL AVIV: Israel’s emergency service Magen David Adom said on Saturday that a woman was killed in the Tel Aviv area after Iran fired a barrage of missiles toward Israel.
“Paramedics have confirmed the death of a woman in her 40s with severe injuries,” MDA said.
Earlier on Saturday, MDA said that a woman in a critical condition was among 21 people injured in the Iranian strikes.
AFP journalists and Israeli television channels reported first responders and firemen deployed in several parts of Tel Aviv, and physical damage to the city.
AFPTV images showed a street flanked by residential buildings whose facades were destroyed by blasts, as well as burnt out cars.
Firemen extinguished the flames from fires that broke out in the surrounding area while first rescuers evacuated the injured.
Throughout the evening, AFP journalists reported loud blasts in the Tel Aviv area, Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank, as Israel’s aerial defense system shot down barrages of missiles.
The military said Saturday evening that “several points of impact” were reported throughout Israel.
Speaking from one point of impact, Israeli police spokesman Dean Elsdunne said that first responders were going from building to building to check for damages and more injuries.
