“I must admit that I prefer Tzipi Livni over most of her recent predecessors at the Justice Ministry and any of her potential replacements, but I’m convinced that her role as the head of Israel’s negotiating team with the Palestinians is much more important.

This time, we are not talking about a jaunt to Washington or Ramallah every few months for a diplomatic meeting. Rather, the new talks are supposed to be very intense and they will last for at least nine months, if not longer. The minister in charge of this process, Livni, should not have to divide her attention between two completely different roles. For example, a strike by court stenographers would not an earth-shattering event, but it would require the justice minister’s intense attention to avoid it crippling the courts. Livni should not have to deal with issues like this in the near future.

Many meetings get cancelled or cut short due to the schedules of the leaders taking part in them. In most cases, the “prior commitments” are likely less important, even in the eyes of the leaders themselves, than peace talks, but commitments are commitments. In Livni’s case, her many responsibilities as justice minister could impede her ability to fulfill the role for which she joined the government — conducting negotiations with the Palestinians.”

Read more…