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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.Benjamin Netanyahu, the leader of the right-of-centre Likud party, has been asked to form Israel's next government.
Mr Netanyahu said he would try to open talks on forming a unity government with his political rivals. Mr Netanyahu said Israel faced "great challenges" including the global economic crisis and what he said was Iran's wish to obtain nuclear weapons.
He said he would try to form a unity government with his political rivals.
But Tzipi Livni, leader of the centrist Kadima, has suggested she would rather be in opposition than join a government led by Mr Netanyahu.But Tzipi Livni, leader of the centrist Kadima, has 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. Kadima narrowly defeated Likud in the election held on 10 February, but Mr Netanyahu 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.
President Shimon Peres and Mr Netanyahu held a news conference to officially announce the move and the Likud leader now has six weeks to put together a coalition.President Shimon Peres and Mr Netanyahu held a news conference to officially announce the move and the Likud leader now has six weeks to put together a coalition.
He told the news conference he wanted to open talks with his political rivals to form a "broad national unity government for the good of the people and the state".He told the news conference he wanted to open talks with his political rivals to form a "broad national unity government for the good of the people and the state".
He said: "I call on Kadima chairwoman Tzipi Livni and Labour Party chairman Ehud Barak and I say to them - let's unite to secure the future of the State of Israel."He said: "I call on Kadima chairwoman Tzipi Livni and Labour Party chairman Ehud Barak and I say to them - let's unite to secure the future of the State of Israel."
'Pawn''Pawn'
The BBC's diplomatic correspondent, Jonathan Marcus, says the decision to choose Mr Netanyahu marks the beginning of a period of serious horse-trading.The BBC's diplomatic correspondent, Jonathan Marcus, says the decision to choose Mr Netanyahu marks the beginning of a period of serious horse-trading.
He says Mr Netanyahu will have a real job on his hands - either to persuade Ms Livni to join his government, or to reconcile the differences among the various factions on the right.He says Mr Netanyahu will have a real job on his hands - either to persuade Ms Livni to join his government, or to reconcile the differences among the various factions on the right.
ELECTION RESULTS Kadima: 28 seatsLikud: 27 seatsYisrael Beiteinu: 15Labour: 13Shas: 11United Torah Judaism: 5 See results in full href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7882731.stm">Horse-trading begins class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7882757.stm">Highs and lows of election drama class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7882829.stm">In pictures: Outcome of vote ELECTION RESULTS Kadima: 28 seatsLikud: 27 seatsYisrael Beiteinu: 15Labour: 13Shas: 11United Torah Judaism: 5 See results in full href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7901732.stm">Tough dealing ahead class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7613137.stm">Q&A: Israel's general election class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/2393677.stm">Profile: Benjamin Netanyahu
Minutes before the news came out that the Likud leader would be asked to form a government, Ms Livni said what was being proposed was a government "without political vision, a government with no values".Minutes before the news came out that the Likud leader would be asked to form a government, Ms Livni said 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, or 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, or 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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