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Olmert government ends term with diplomatic victory for… Hamas DEBKAfile Exclusive Analysis February 8, 2009, 9:50 PM (GMT+02:00) Defense minister Ehud Barak Israel's military leaders point to the negotiations handled by Israel's three war leaders - prime minister Ehud Olmert, defense minister Ehud Barak and foreign minister Tzipi Livni - as an example of how to parlay a military victory into a diplomatic defeat. When Barak and Livni, as Labor and Kadima leaders respectively, face the Israeli voter Tuesday, Feb. 10, it will be after their surrender to eight Hamas conditions for a long-term truce. Through Cairo's good offices, Israel will find itself extending de facto recognition to Hamas' rule of Gaza and acceptance of the enclave as a forward Iranian base - as the upshot of Operation Cast Lead. Read more about this in DEBKAfile's Exclusive Analysis below.  Full article

In internal polls, Kadima edges up at Labor's expense 24 hours before Tuesday vote February 9, 2009, 12:10 PM (GMT+02:00) The secret polls run by the parties show Binyamin Netanyahu's opposition Likud holding a steady lead at 28 minus (out of 120 Knesset seats) Monday, Feb. 9, despite all-out, last-ditch campaigning for Tuesday's general election. Foreign minister Tzipi Livni's Kadima has gained one seat from 23 to 24 at the expense of Ehud Barak's Labor, which has dropped from 18 to 13-14 since Sunday. Dark horse right-wing Israel Beitenu headed by Avigdor Lieberman still rising from 17 to 19.  More...