Former Israeli foreign minister and opposition leader Tzipi Livni submitted her resignation from the Knesset Tuesday . Speaking to reporters outside the parliament , Livni said , `` My principles and values obligate ( me ) to leave the party of Kadima in the Knesset . I always said the seat was not everything . I am leaving at this stage but I am not retiring from public life '' Livni , who served as the head of the centrists Kadima Party , was defeated in a party leadership preliminary last month , losing to her party deputy and former Israel Defense Forces chief Shaul Mofaz , who took 62 % of the votes to Livni 's 38 % . The resignation adds another variable in Israel 's quickly evolving political landscape . Earlier this week Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated that he was likely to seek early elections . Some of his Likud Party officials predicted that the vote might be scheduled as early as September . Livni was a vocal and high-profile but largely ineffective opposition figure to Netanyahu 's rightist coalition . In her remarks , Livni took Netanyahu 's government to task for not putting enough effort into making peace with the Palestinians . `` For many years our leadership has been burying its head in the sand dealing with political tricks '' she charged . `` During this time the threats to Israel have only become greater ... In order to know this we do n't the need evaluation of the head of the Shin Bet , '' she said in an indirect reference to recent criticism the former head of Israel 's internal security lodged toward the current government 's foreign policy . Livni also lambasted the Netanyahu government for not doing more to enhance Israel 's global standing . `` Israel lives on the top of a volcano and the international clock is ticking , '' she warned , saying the existence of democracy in the Jewish state is under `` a great threat '' Livni , 53 , gained international prominence in 2009 as foreign minister under Prime Minister Ehud Olmert . She and Defense Minister Ehud Barak spearheaded Operation Cast Lead , Israel 's extensive military offense in Gaza . She also played a major role in helping end Israel 's 2006 war with Hezbollah in Lebanon .
' Livni left the Knesset after losing her party leadership bid last year . She says the party is n't putting enough effort into making peace with the Palestinians . ` ` Israel lives on the top of a volcano and the international clock is ticking , '' she says .