Worldfocus talks with Marymount Manhattan College professor and Palestinian-American Ghassan Shabaneh about the failing popularity of the U.S.’s Middle Eastern allies.

For more on the violence in Gaza, listen to Worldfocus interviews with experts on the ground in Gaza and surrounding regions.

Aaron David Miller, a public policy fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center, speaks with Martin Savidge about the potential role of the U.S. in the Gaza conflict, and the difficult choices that President-elect Obama will soon have to make.

Richard Weitz, a senior fellow at Hudson Institute, speaks with Martin Savidge about the possibility of an Israeli ground invasion of Gaza.

Michael Wahid Hanna, of the Century Foundation, speaks with Martin Savidge about Egypt’s role in the Hamas-Israel conflict.

Tzipi Livni, pictured at the World Economic Forum in 2007, was elected leader of the Kadima Party.

Israel held elections for a new leader of the ruling Kadima Party yesterday, the first step in a long path that could eventually lead to a new prime minister. Tzipi Livni, a foreign minister, won by a narrow margin of about 1 percent over her main contender, Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz. If she becomes prime minister, she will be Israel’s first female prime minister in 34 years.

“Yael K” liveblogged about the elections, including several disturbances and the closing of a polling station in Rahat.

“Sabbah Blog” provides a briefing on the election and the candidates and assesses the effect of the elections on the prospect for peace.

“Foreign Policy Watch” considers Livni’s relationship with political groups in Israel.

“The Agonist” favors Tzipi Livni and muses about future relations between the United States and Israel given the changing leadership of both nations.

Joshua Landis discusses Israel’s relationship with Syria and the United States, and Shmuel Rosner calls Livni “Israel’s Obama.”

Al Jazeera reports on Palestinian reactions to the election. Read and watch the Guardian’s report on Livni and the challenges she faces.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, plagued by corruption scandals, promised to resign as soon as a successor was chosen, but now may not leave until October.

Photo courtesy of Flickr user World Economic Forum under a Creative Commons license.