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| Netanyahu to form Israel cabinet | Netanyahu to form Israel cabinet |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Benjamin Netanyahu, the leader of the right-of-centre Likud party, has been asked to form Israel's next government. | |
| President Shimon Peres had been trying to persuade Israel's main parties to form a power-sharing government. | President Shimon Peres had been trying to persuade Israel's main parties to form a power-sharing government. |
| But Tzipi Livni, leader of the centrist Kadima, suggested she would rather be in opposition than join a government led by Mr Netanyahu. | But Tzipi Livni, leader of the centrist Kadima, suggested she would rather be in opposition than join a government led by Mr Netanyahu. |
| The Likud leader has the support of religious and right-wing parties in the Israeli parliament. | The Likud leader has the support of religious and right-wing parties in the Israeli parliament. |
| Kadima narrowly defeated Likud in the election held on 10 February, but Likud's wider backing put them in a stronger position to form a new government. | Kadima narrowly defeated Likud in the election held on 10 February, but Likud's wider backing put them in a stronger position to form a new government. |
| Mr Peres and Mr Netanyahu held a news conference to officially announce the move. | |
| The Likud leader now has six weeks to put together a coalition, and could yet try to persuade Ms Livni to join him. | |
| 'Pawn' gibe | 'Pawn' gibe |
| Mr Peres has been in talks with leaders from all political parties, and correspondents say he had been trying to garner support for a power-sharing government involving both Mr Netanyahu and Ms Livni. | Mr Peres has been in talks with leaders from all political parties, and correspondents say he had been trying to garner support for a power-sharing government involving both Mr Netanyahu and Ms Livni. |
| 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 |
| But minutes before the news came out that the Likud leader would be asked to form a government, Ms Livni released a statement saying what was being proposed was a government "without political vision, a government with no values". | But minutes before the news came out that the Likud leader would be asked to form a government, Ms Livni released a statement saying what was being proposed was a government "without political vision, a government with no values". |
| "I will not be a pawn in a government that would be against our ideals," she said. | "I will not be a pawn in a government that would be against our ideals," she said. |
| One of the main points of contention between the two parties is how to handle the Palestinian Territories. | One of the main points of contention between the two parties is how to handle the Palestinian Territories. |
| Ms Livni favours more talks and the creation of a separate state for the Palestinians. | Ms Livni favours more talks and the creation of a separate state for the Palestinians. |
| Mr Netanyahu says he does not want Israel to rule the Palestinians, but says they should not be allowed things he considers a threat to Israeli security, such as an army, control of airspace or the Jordan Valley. | Mr Netanyahu says he does not want Israel to rule the Palestinians, but says they should not be allowed things he considers a threat to Israeli security, such as an army, control of airspace or the Jordan Valley. |
| Mr Netanyahu's position was bolstered on Thursday when the far-right Yisrael Beiteinu party, which favours tightening the Israeli blockade on Gaza, said it wanted him to be prime minister. | Mr Netanyahu's position was bolstered on Thursday when the far-right Yisrael Beiteinu party, which favours tightening the Israeli blockade on Gaza, said it wanted him to be prime minister. |
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