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Members of Israel's ruling, centrist Kadima party will head to the polls Wednesday to pick a new leader to replace Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. VOA's Luis Ramirez reports from Jerusalem.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who is under investigation1 for corruption2, plans to step down after his centrist Kadima party votes for a new leader Wednesday.
The change of leadership occurs as Israelis face growing uncertainty3 over the future of the peace process with the Palestinians, the threat of Iran's nuclear program, and the militant4 group Hamas' control of the Gaza Strip.
Israel is likely heading for general elections in the coming months and analysts5 say concerns about security will push Israelis to vote for a more right-wing candidate, possibly the Likud party's Benjamin Netanyahu, who is perceived as strong on security.
Supporters of Tzipi Livni, Israeli FM and candidate for Kadima party leadership, seen on the posters on the wall, work at Livni's headquarters in Netanya, Israel, 16 Sep 2008
In these Kadima party primary elections, the front-runners are foreign minister Tzipi Livni and transportation minister Shaul Mofaz, a former chief of staff and defense6 minister. Both have pledged to be tough on security issues, saying they will not tolerate a nuclear Iran or militants7 in the Palestinian territories.
Opinion polls have shown Livni in the lead, despite concerns by some who say she does not have enough security experience.
Still, some Israelis interviewed on the streets Tuesday said they see Livni, with her clean reputation and experience in negotiating with the Palestinians, as a last hope for peace.
This Jewish settler who says she was removed from a settlement in Gaza, tells VOA she is pessimistic about prospects8 for peace as she prepares to cast her ballot9 Wednesday.
She says she will give Tzipi Livni a chance, but says she does not think there will be peace here in 200 years.
Analysts say it will be weeks before it is known what new direction Israel's leadership will take. Whoever wins these primaries will have to set up a new governing coalition10.
The United States wants to see a peace agreement by the end of the year, but there is little hope that will happen. Both sides report no signs of progress.
Livni has cautioned against rushing into a premature11 deal.
The Palestinians say an agreement must address all of their long-standing concerns, which include the right of return for Arabs displaced from their places of origin in Israel, the status of Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state, and Jewish settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.
1 investigation | |
n.调查,调查研究 | |
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2 corruption | |
n.腐败,堕落,贪污 | |
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3 uncertainty | |
n.易变,靠不住,不确知,不确定的事物 | |
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4 militant | |
adj.激进的,好斗的;n.激进分子,斗士 | |
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5 analysts | |
分析家,化验员( analyst的名词复数 ) | |
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6 defense | |
n.防御,保卫;[pl.]防务工事;辩护,答辩 | |
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7 militants | |
激进分子,好斗分子( militant的名词复数 ) | |
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8 prospects | |
n.希望,前途(恒为复数) | |
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9 ballot | |
n.(不记名)投票,投票总数,投票权;vi.投票 | |
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10 coalition | |
n.结合体,同盟,结合,联合 | |
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11 premature | |
adj.比预期时间早的;不成熟的,仓促的 | |
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