Father: Eitan Livni, businessman and politician
Mother: Sarah (Rosenberg) Livni
Marriage: Naftali Shpitzer (1984–present)
Children: Omri and Yuval
Education: Bar-Ilan University, LLB, 1985
Military service: Israeli Defense Forces, early 1980s
Other Facts
Livni’s parents were fighters in the Irgun Zvai Leumi, a right-wing Zionist guerilla group that fought against the British occupation of Palestine in the 1940s.
Nicknamed “Mrs. Clean” for her reputation as being uncorrupted.
Former member of the Likud Party.
Second female foreign minister of Israel. Golda Meir was the first (1956–1966).
Timeline
1980 – Livni joins the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad and is posted in Paris.
1984 – Begins law school in Israel.
1986-1996 – Practices law, specializing in the areas of commercial, constitutional and real estate law.
1996 – Loses her first campaign for a seat in the Knesset (Israeli parliament).
1996-1999 – Director general of the Government Companies Authority.
1999 – Elected to the Knesset. Serves on the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee and the Committee on the Status of Women.
2001 – Is appointed minister.
2005 – Livni joins Kadima, a political party created by Sharon.
May 2006 – Is appointed vice prime minister.
November 2006-February 2007 – Serves as minister of justice.
2007 – Named one of Time magazine’s Most Influential People in the World.
March 2009 – Becomes leader of the opposition in parliament.
May 2011 – Livni calls on Prime Minister Netanyahu to resign, saying he has harmed the important relationship between Israel and the United States.
March 28, 2012 – Loses her fight to remain head of Kadima. She is defeated by former Israel Defense Forces Chief Shaul Mofaz, who took 62% of the votes to Livni’s 38%.
June 14, 2012 , Following statements suggesting that the Kadima party will not exist for the next Knesset election, a petition circulates seeking Livni’s removal from the party.
June 20, 2012 – Joins Desert Queens, an Israeli all-women adventure competition in India.
November 27, 2012 – Forms the Hatnua party. Hatnua means “the movement” in Hebrew.
May 2013 – Livni is reelected to the Knesset.
December 10, 2014 – Announces run for the position of prime minister along with Isaac Herzog on the Zionist Union ticket.
June 25, 2018 – Herzog, newly appointed chairman of the Jewish Agency, tells Israel Radio that he wants Livni to assume his parliamentary role as Knesset’s opposition leader. At a later Knesset faction meeting, Livni says she should be the one to replace Herzog: “I see the opposition leadership as essential for the continuation of the partnership.”
February 18, 2019 – Announces she is retiring from politics.
