Tzipi Livni have "a clear choice in February between a leader who has the courage to abandon tired old thinking on politics and security and one who has not." Although it expressed some doubts, the Israeli newspaper "Haaretz" also endorsed Livni for prime minister. When Livni was tapped to form the next governing coalition, Palestinian political analyst Mahdi Abdel Hadi said that Livni had been received warmly in the Gulf, and that she was the leader most Arabs want to see as Israel's next prime minister. During the 2009 general elections, Arab media depicted her very negatively but as the lesser of
2012 Kadima leadership election Line. Meretz leader Zehava Gal-On also congratulated Mofaz, but said his victory proves Kadima is a "centre-right" party. Labor leader Shelly Yachimovich also congratulated Mofaz, said he was worthy of the job, and said Labor was the only true opposition party. United Torah Judaism MK Moshe Gafni blamed Livni's loss on her criticism of Haredi Jews, while National Union MK Michael Ben-Ari said Mofaz can credit his victory to Arab voters and that he was now indebted to them. 2012 Kadima leadership election An election for the leadership of Kadima was held on 27 March 2012, pitting Tzipi Livni against