The day after she and prime minister Ehud Olmert met to bury the hatchet, Livni attacked his government’s decision-making processes at a joint press conference in Jerusalem with visiting German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Before a decision is taken on how to cope with the spiraling missile attacks from Gaza, the army should present its plans to the government and alternatives examined. No serious discussion has ever taken place, she said. Livni insisted on the foreign ministry being co-opted to any decision-making, saying that it was unacceptable for her office to learn about opposing views on how to cope with Hamas’ menacing war build-up from the media.