Independent: Livni 1st spy to turn pm

Independent in an article Monday wrote that the current Israeli foreign minister would be the first Mosad agent to become premier.

Polls suggest Tzivi Livni is easily Kadima's best hope of confronting a powerful electoral challenge from Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing Likud, Independent wrote.

According to the daily, Livni as a former Mossad agent in right-wing Zionism has her own red lines against even a token admission of Palestinian refugees to Israel. She has been openly critical of Mr Olmert's decision to open talks with Syria without Damascus first "ending its support for terror".

But she says that Israel should be ready to give back territory while adding it must be "by consensus and it must bring an end to the conflict". And she is heavily committed to – and personally embroiled in – the problem-strewn talks with President Abbas's team on the outlines of a future two-state solution.

According to the daily, Arabs prefer her over her rival, Yitzak Robin. "Ms Livni has clean hands and she can make peace with the Palestinians and the Arab states," the daily quotes Ashoul Munir, a businessman. "She is a woman and that means a change."

The rise of Tzipi Livni
*Born: Tzipora Malka Livni on 8 July 1958 in Tel Aviv
*Youth: Her parents were leading members of Etzel, a radical Zionist organisation. Her views led her to join Mossad in her early 20s. Left after two years to become a lawyer and start a family.
*Family: Married to Naftali Spitzer, two sons, Omri and Yuval
*Career: Elected to the Knesset in 1999 as a member of Likud, and was appointed to a series of ministerial posts. Her views softened into a more centrist position and she began to advocate a two-state solution. Followed Ariel Sharon into new Kadima party in 2005; Foreign Minister since 2006