Introduction

The elections are best understood in the context of the wars that were at each end of Ehud Olmert's government tenure, the corruption scandals involving the Prime Minister, and the internal politics of the Kadima party in proximity to the elections. In the 2006 election campaign, Olmert had presented a "realignment plan" to the public that was purported to represent a continuation of Ariel Sharon's disengagement policy. The election campaign began with the resignation of Olmert in the shadow of his corruption scandals and the issues of integrity and clean government. In the 2009 election, the party with the highest representation of women was Israel Beitenu, where a nomination committee selected the list. Olmert was elected in the 2006 election after he replaced Ariel Sharon, who had been incapacitated by a stroke during the course of the election campaign.