In Israel, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is claiming victory in the contest to replace Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as head of the Kadima party. Olmert is stepping down to face multiple corruption charges. Livni beat out her closest rival, Israeli Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz, by just hundreds of votes. Livni has been deeply involved in peace talks with the Palestinian Authority but has backed the Israeli government’s ongoing expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank.