Ceasefire won't be an issue in Israeli elections - envoy

Israeli Ambassador Zvi Vapni claimed Thursday that Israel’s recent offensive, including airstrikes, and the latest ceasefire would not be a dividing issue in the Feb. 10 elections in Israel.

Vapni said there is little difference on the issue of Gaza between the parties seeking to lead the parliament.

“The Gaza issue is really not dividing. There’s no big difference between the parties on their stand on the issue of Gaza. We have great support so this is not a dividing element. There might be (differences) in the future in an agreement with the Palestinians which is an issue we could be divided on, but the Gaza issue is really not a dividing line. We agree that we have to be protected,” Vapni told The STAR.

He said incumbent Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will resign from politics and the major contenders to replace him include former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel’s prime minister-designate Tzipi Livni, leader of the centrist Kadima party.

Olmert formally resigned in September amid a police investigation on allegations of bribery and fraud.

In October, Livni announced that she would take the country into early elections after attempts at building a government coalition fell apart.

The US is worried that an early Israeli election may further sideline peace talks and a peace deal with the Palestinians.

Opinion polls showed that Netanyahu’s right-wing opposition Likud party is leading. Netanyahu has criticized the peace proposals that Livni and Olmert have made with US backing.

Israeli diplomats and military personnel assigned in the Philippines cast their advanced votes yesterday at the Israeli embassy.

Vapni said less than 50 would cast their vote ahead of the Feb. 10 election in Israel.

“This election is especially interesting because the incumbent Prime Minister will resign from politics and certainly there will be a new one. And two major contestants are former Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Minister of Foreign Affairs Livni. He (Netanyahu) might return after quite a while and after many drama and political mess. Ms. Livni is also very effective,” Vapni added.