Tzipi Livnis loss to Shaul Mofaz in Tuesdays Kadima primaries can be largely attributed to her failed leadership as the head of the opposition. I cannot recall such a weak, feeble and passive opposition leader since that position was written into law in 2000. Since the laws enactment, several well-established figures have occupied that role, among them Ariel Sharon, Shimon Peres, Benjamin Netanyahu, Yossef Tommy Lapid, Yossi Sarid, Dalia Itzik and Amir Peretz. Each left an imprint of some sort. They unveiled alternative policy initiatives or delivered fiery speeches and rallied opposition factions behind them in their battles against the government. Livni is the only one who had zero impact: she made sure to rise up to the podium each time the prime minister spoke; she met with foreign dignitaries who visited Israel and frequently travelled overseas, but she failed to infuse any real meaning into this important title. Moreover, Livni did not join forces with those who tried to create a united front against the government on legislative matters. In the meager few times such attempts were made, it was Kadima faction head MK Dalia Itzik who mobilized the National Union, Meretz, Hadash and the Arab factions to wage battle against the government on the issues at hand. Livni also failed to enlist support on legislation from Kadima faction members. Such was the case on Wednesday - the last day of the Knesset winter session - when all of Kadimas MKs just disappeared from the Knesset hallways. This was the day when many pieces of legislation went up for their final two readings. Kadima MKs could not make the extra effort to show up, and only coalition members attended. Excuse me, I forgot to mention Dov Khenin (Hadash). But where were the main opposition partys members- The Knesset debate leading up to the final passage of the Israel Broadcasting Authority bill saw a much-awaited discussion - both the Knessets Education Culture and Sports Committee and the Economic Affairs Committee had labored on its language - but not a single one of the opposition members who drafted the bill actually showed up. MK Nachman Shai (Kadima) and Meretzs MKs (Zahava Gal-On, Nitzan Horowitz and Ilan Gilon), had voiced many objections to the laws provision, but did not make the effort to arrive at the floor debate to explain their misgivings. The only detractors of the bill who did arrive - and who were even granted floor time - were Khenin and United Torah Judaisms Israel Eichler. Such behavior was typical of Livnis Kadima throughout the entire winter session, and in fact, for the entire 18th Knesset. She failed to put a spoke in the governments wheel when it came to coalition-sponsored bills, including controversial initiatives, such as the so-called boycott bill and the Grunis bill. The opposition failed to pass even a single piece of legislation to which the government objected. Though occasionally opposition lawmakers managed to push through legislation, this was only made possible thanks to the coalitions tacit endorsement or lack of reservations.
