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Netanyahu PM bid wins key support | Netanyahu PM bid wins key support |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Benjamin Netanyahu, the leader of Israel's right-wing Likud party, has won the backing of a leading far-right party for his bid to become PM. | Benjamin Netanyahu, the leader of Israel's right-wing Likud party, has won the backing of a leading far-right party for his bid to become PM. |
Yisrael Beiteinu, led by Avigdor Lieberman, made substantial gains in the recent general election. | Yisrael Beiteinu, led by Avigdor Lieberman, made substantial gains in the recent general election. |
Mr Lieberman said he wanted to see a "wide" coalition government taking in the three largest parties. | Mr Lieberman said he wanted to see a "wide" coalition government taking in the three largest parties. |
This makes it very likely that Mr Netanyahu will be asked by President Shimon Peres to form a government. | This makes it very likely that Mr Netanyahu will be asked by President Shimon Peres to form a government. |
Likud can in theory now count on the support of 65 of the Israeli parliament's 120 members. | Likud can in theory now count on the support of 65 of the Israeli parliament's 120 members. |
Mr Peres began meeting the parties on Wednesday as part of consultations on who to invite to attempt to form the next Israeli government. | Mr Peres began meeting the parties on Wednesday as part of consultations on who to invite to attempt to form the next Israeli government. |
ELECTION RESULTS Kadima: 28 seatsLikud: 27 seatsYisrael Beiteinu: 15Labour: 13Shas: 11United Torah Judaism: 5 See results in fullHorse-trading begins Highs and lows of election dramaIn pictures: Outcome of vote | ELECTION RESULTS Kadima: 28 seatsLikud: 27 seatsYisrael Beiteinu: 15Labour: 13Shas: 11United Torah Judaism: 5 See results in fullHorse-trading begins Highs and lows of election dramaIn pictures: Outcome of vote |
Tzipi Livni of the centrist Kadima party won 28 parliamentary seats to 27 seats for Mr Netanyahu's Likud party. | Tzipi Livni of the centrist Kadima party won 28 parliamentary seats to 27 seats for Mr Netanyahu's Likud party. |
But nationalist and religious parties, natural allies of Likud, also did well in the election. | But nationalist and religious parties, natural allies of Likud, also did well in the election. |
If Mr Netanyahu is invited to form a government it will be a break with the usual practice, where the leader of the party with the most seats is tasked with building a coalition, and he will have six weeks to sew up a coalition. | |
'Wide' government | 'Wide' government |
Israel Army radio reported Mr Lieberman telling Mr Peres that he supported the Likud leader as prime minister but "only as part of a wider government". | Israel Army radio reported Mr Lieberman telling Mr Peres that he supported the Likud leader as prime minister but "only as part of a wider government". |
"We are not talking of a government with a restricted majority. To govern the country, we need a government with the three largest parties - Likud, Kadima and Yisrael Beiteinu. | "We are not talking of a government with a restricted majority. To govern the country, we need a government with the three largest parties - Likud, Kadima and Yisrael Beiteinu. |
"Netanyahu will be prime minister, but it will be a Bibi-Livni government," said Mr Lieberman, using Mr Netanyahu's widely-used nickname. | "Netanyahu will be prime minister, but it will be a Bibi-Livni government," said Mr Lieberman, using Mr Netanyahu's widely-used nickname. |
Ms Livni said she had "no intention of changing even a fraction of Kadima's path" and would not "serve as a fig leaf for a government of paralysis". | Ms Livni said she had "no intention of changing even a fraction of Kadima's path" and would not "serve as a fig leaf for a government of paralysis". |
Kadima campaigned on election pledges to continue peace talks with the Palestinians, while Mr Netanyahu stands further to the right and has opposed the negotiations. | Kadima campaigned on election pledges to continue peace talks with the Palestinians, while Mr Netanyahu stands further to the right and has opposed the negotiations. |
Party figures have in recent days suggested Ms Livni would reject sitting in a Likud-led unity coalition. | Party figures have in recent days suggested Ms Livni would reject sitting in a Likud-led unity coalition. |
Kadima proposed a power-sharing deal with Likud similar to the one in 1984 which saw the leaders of Likud and Labour each hold the post of prime minister for two years. | Kadima proposed a power-sharing deal with Likud similar to the one in 1984 which saw the leaders of Likud and Labour each hold the post of prime minister for two years. |
Failing that, it said it would choose to lead the opposition. | Failing that, it said it would choose to lead the opposition. |
Mr Lieberman did not make clear what he would do if Kadima refused to join a unity government. | Mr Lieberman did not make clear what he would do if Kadima refused to join a unity government. |
In the Israeli political system, the task of trying to form a government after an election does not necessarily go to the party that won the most seats in the parliament, but to the party most likely to be able to form a majority coalition. | In the Israeli political system, the task of trying to form a government after an election does not necessarily go to the party that won the most seats in the parliament, but to the party most likely to be able to form a majority coalition. |
Mr Peres' spokesman said he is expected to announce his decision on Sunday or Monday. | Mr Peres' spokesman said he is expected to announce his decision on Sunday or Monday. |
The 10 February election was called after Prime Minister Ehud Olmert handed in his resignation in September after being questioned by police over a series of corruption scandals. He has denied any wrongdoing. | The 10 February election was called after Prime Minister Ehud Olmert handed in his resignation in September after being questioned by police over a series of corruption scandals. He has denied any wrongdoing. |
Mr Olmert has stayed on as acting premier. | Mr Olmert has stayed on as acting premier. |
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