Israeli Primary Tomorrow: Livni vs. Mofaz

Okay, it's down to the vote tomorrow in Israel as to who will lead the ruling party of Israel and more than likely replace Olmert as Prime Minister. The two candidates for the job, Tzipi Livni and Shaul Mofaz, are both trying to talk tough on Iran but from my view, it is only Mofaz who has really put his money where his mouth is on the subject. Livni, well ...she has been talking negotiations for far too long. Here's some details from the article at Breitbart regarding this critical election:

Both front-runners for the leadership of Israel's ruling party vow to take a hard line against Iran, threatening possible military force if sanctions do not halt what Israel believes is a covert nuclear weapons program.
The winner of Wednesday's primary to replace Ehud Olmert as head of the Kadima Party would be in a strong position to succeed him as prime minister, and the stance toward Iran could have repercussions for peace in the Middle East.
Israel's soft-spoken foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, is battling Shaul Mofaz, a former military chief and defense minister, in the race to head the centrist party. Both say they prefer a diplomatic solution, but promise to be as tough as needed in confronting Iran.

Mofaz has indicated a stronger willingness to turn to the military option. In June, he spooked world oil markets by telling the newspaper Yediot Ahronot that Israel would have "no choice" but to attack Iran if diplomatic efforts to end Tehran's nuclear program fail.
"If Iran continues its nuclear arms program—we will attack it," he was quoted as saying.

On the campaign trail, Livni, who was an agent with the Mossad spy agency before working as a lawyer, has declined to discuss her Iran strategy.
"I'm ready," she said last week. "The only thing I won't do is say in advance what I would do. Headlines on this issue hurt more than help."

Now, I really don't know Mofaz from adam here but I like his rhetoric but I would have to say that Livni is gonna win this thing. Her background as a Mossad agent doesn't hurt things in my opinion but over the past couple of years, I've seen her buy into a few too many of Olmert's appeasement plans. I've said before that America is facing the most critical election in its history this year and I have no doubt that Israel is facing the same. I sure hope they get it right.

Rivals to lead Israeli ruling party tough on Iran

JERUSALEM (AP) - Both front-runners for the leadership of Israel's ruling party vow to take a hard line against Iran, threatening possible military force if sanctions do not halt what Israel believes is a covert nuclear weapons program.
The winner of Wednesday's primary to replace Ehud Olmert as head of the Kadima Party would be in a strong position to succeed him as prime minister, and the stance toward Iran could have repercussions for peace in the Middle East.
Israel's soft-spoken foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, is battling Shaul Mofaz, a former military chief and defense minister, in the race to head the centrist party. Both say they prefer a diplomatic solution, but promise to be as tough as needed in confronting Iran.
Israeli officials describe Iran as the biggest threat to Israel's existence. They cite Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's frequent calls for its destruction and the Iranian development of long-range missiles capable of striking the Jewish state.
Mofaz has indicated a stronger willingness to turn to the military option. In June, he spooked world oil markets by telling the newspaper Yediot Ahronot that Israel would have "no choice" but to attack Iran if diplomatic efforts to end Tehran's nuclear program fail.
"If Iran continues its nuclear arms program—we will attack it," he was quoted as saying.
After coming under heavy criticism for his comments, Mofaz toned down his language, but he hasn't ruled out a military strike.
"I never said that military action is the preferred choice," he told Yediot Ahronot last week. "It would be a last resort in the event that other options fail."
Livni, Israel's top diplomat for the past two years, has repeatedly said she hopes diplomacy prevails. But she too has said force cannot be ruled out if Iran fails to yield to sanctions.
"Iran needs to understand the military threat exists and is not being taken off the table," she said in June.
On the campaign trail, Livni, who was an agent with the Mossad spy agency before working as a lawyer, has declined to discuss her Iran strategy.
"I'm ready," she said last week. "The only thing I won't do is say in advance what I would do. Headlines on this issue hurt more than help."
Mofaz's supporters have sought to present Livni as lacking the security credentials to stand up to Israel's enemies, but she says people should not mistake her preference for diplomatic solutions for a lack of resolve.
"The fact that I'm a woman doesn't make me a weak leader," she said in an interview published Friday in the Jerusalem Post.
"I would like to think that generals also think twice when they make decisions, just like I do," she added. "It's not that generals pull the trigger and women don't. I have no problem pulling the trigger when necessary."