Born July 8, 1958, Tel Aviv.
Livni is the second woman in Israel to hold the title Foreign Minister (after Golda Meir).
In 2007, included in TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World.
Britannica –
“Israeli politician who served as minister of foreign affairs from 2006. She was elected leader of Kadima, the governing party, in September 2008.
Livni’s Polish–born parents Eitan (Benozovich) Livni and Sarah (née Rosenberg) were both active in Irgun Zvai Leumi, a militant Jewish group that fought for the foundation of Israel and was the precursor of the hawkish Herut and Likud parties…
In November 2005 Livni left Likud with Sharon and other party moderates to found Kadima (“Forward”). When Sharon was incapacitated by a stroke in January 2006, Ehud Olmert, then vice prime minister, took over as party leader and acting prime minister. Upon being confirmed as prime minister following a general election in March, he appointed Livni minister of foreign affairs.”
Encyclopaedia Britannica Online, http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1472669/Tzipi–Livni (accessed June 15, 2009)