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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 leader Avigdor 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. But Mr Netanyahu's rival for PM, Tzipi Livni, indicated she would prefer opposition to a unity government.
This makes it very likely that Mr Netanyahu will be asked by President Shimon Peres to form a government. The process follows an inconclusive general election on 10 February.
Likud can in theory now count on the support of 65 of the Israeli parliament's 120 members. President Shimon Peres is holding consultations with Israeli political parties to determine who to task with forming a 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. This is typically the party with the most seats, which would be Kadima, which beat Likud by 28 seats to 27.
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.
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. With the support of Mr Lieberman, Likud can in theory now count on the support of 65 of the Israeli parliament's 120 members, putting it in a stronger position to form a 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
If Mr Netanyahu is invited to form a government 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". But Ms Livni implied she would prefer to sit in opposition than in a unity government with Mr Netanyahu and Mr Lieberman:
"Today, the foundations were laid for an extreme right wing government headed by Netanyahu. This is not our way and this is not our place to be," she said in comments to Kadima members circulated by the party.
"We were not elected to legitimise this extreme right government and we must form an alternative of hope and go to the opposition," she said.
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. Ms Livni's party had 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.
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. Mr Peres is expected announce his decision on who should form a government in the next few days.
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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