Livni comes from a very strong Zionist background. He family were underground freedom fighters during the British rule in Palestine. She is very intelligent and has a quality that is rare for an Israeli politician, she is clean of any moral impropriety. I think that she is the best that we have.

It has to do with the person. Olmert can't lead Israel, and he's not a woman. Maybe Livni would be better. Either way... neither of them will be on my list of top PMs of all time!

If you want a woman to run Israel, we in America would be thrilled to donate to you our one and only, Hillary Clinton. Take her with our blessing.

At the Annapolis Conference Livini was kvetching that no Arab would shake her hand? The Arabs do not respect her or fear her. The minute she is elected they will believe Israel has gone totally soft and will launch a major war. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3477027,00.html

This has nothing to do with gender, but only to do with ability. Livni has proven herself to be inept many times over and i find it ludicrous that anyone would even think she is capable of holding the top position in Israel. The author is making suicidal notions! We need a strong leader, not weak and appeasing like Livni.

...if it is "politically correct" to tell such things about Livni – but if it is true at all. And I would say it is FALSE. I think Tzipi Livni is a capable person and I don't know one single reason why she should perform worse than her rivals. Though I like Barak as well, I think that Olmert, Barak and Netanyahu are tired and without any new ideas. And even her rivals see her as a capable politician who could kick them out of race. Otherwise they wouldn't come with these ridiculous sexist arguments. They need sexist arguments because they have no better... Furthermore, the time of political heroes is over – there will be no other Ben Gurion, Meir, Rabin or Sharon. "Media democracy" prefers smart guys which are kissing babies and try to please the public... and rejects the more difficult types – who at least have character. So I guess you have to get used to the "normal type" of politicians...

And Livni is not one.

Is Livni as strong as Golda Meir or Margaret Thatcher? It takes an Iron Lady to be a strong PM.

What kind of a question is that? .... remember Golda ..

No matter if male or female.. but Livni completely failed when negotiating the agreement at the end of the 2nd war in Lebanon..

the level of nuke's irradiation is not yet too bad to not trust a man to "lead" the whole Israel.

stop the spin!

Livni as Prime Minister of israel.... God forbid! Pretty: do me a favour! Genuine & honest: I don't think so. She is too schwach and would run at the first shot.

So far, they have made a mess of it. On the other hand, the only woman to have led Israel, Golda Meir, made an even greater mess of things. It probably makes no difference if a male or female incompetent is leading Israel

She already has. Her name was Golda Meir.

Tzipi is a total wus.

Strong women!?! My grandmother and yours, probably. Of course, Livni is up to the PMship. Perhaps, the macho males can't/don't want to believe it or accept it. Only HaShem doesn't change. Everything else... We'll see. Old or New? Status quo or best person?

The question should really be, can Livni lead Israel, because the answer to whether a woman can lead Israel has been answered in the affirmative if someone actually remembers Golda Meir. And it seems that the answer to whether Livni can lead Israel is, if Livni can't no one else in the political scene can at the moment. So, hell yeah.

Women yes, Livni no.

Israel in perilous times because she was a woman with a woman's sensibilities. Zippy is no Golda and would be even worse. This is no reflection on her intelligence or high IQ, because intellect is no guarantee of leadership abilities. Women simply have a harder time of ordering soldiers to kill and/or be killed. It's a rare woman who can do so. The biblical Deborah and Thatcher are the only two I can think of. Livni does not inspire confidence nor does she have the experience to lead the nation in these perilous times.