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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Barak 'agrees to Likud coalition' | Barak 'agrees to Likud coalition' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Israel's Labour leader Ehud Barak has reached a provisional deal with PM-designate Benjamin Netanyahu on forming a coalition, Israeli army radio says. | Israel's Labour leader Ehud Barak has reached a provisional deal with PM-designate Benjamin Netanyahu on forming a coalition, Israeli army radio says. |
| The centre-left Labour party is divided over whether to join a government with Mr Netanyahu's Likud and will vote on the agreement shortly. | The centre-left Labour party is divided over whether to join a government with Mr Netanyahu's Likud and will vote on the agreement shortly. |
| The right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu and Orthodox Jewish Shas parties have already agreed to join a coalition. | The right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu and Orthodox Jewish Shas parties have already agreed to join a coalition. |
| The moderate Kadima party has so far refused to join. | The moderate Kadima party has so far refused to join. |
| Mr Netanyahu has a deadline of 3 April to build his coalition government. | Mr Netanyahu has a deadline of 3 April to build his coalition government. |
| Labour divided | Labour divided |
| Mr Barak is defence minister in the current government and would retain the post in the next government, Israeli army radio reported. | Mr Barak is defence minister in the current government and would retain the post in the next government, Israeli army radio reported. |
| Under the draft agreement, Labour would also get five cabinet posts and the government would commit to continuing negotiations with the Palestinians and to respecting previous deals made with them. | Under the draft agreement, Labour would also get five cabinet posts and the government would commit to continuing negotiations with the Palestinians and to respecting previous deals made with them. |
| In terms of other issues like the peace process with the Palestinians, and probably other day-to-day issues, there will be an argument, but this is not what's going to bring the government down Yuli-Yoel EdelsteinLikud member of Knesset href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7901732.stm"> Tough dealing ahead for Netanyahu class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7535346.stm"> Profile: Ehud Barak class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/2393677.stm"> Profile: Benjamin Netanyahu | |
| Army radio also said the government would commit to working against unauthorised Jewish settlements in the West Bank. | Army radio also said the government would commit to working against unauthorised Jewish settlements in the West Bank. |
| With Labour's support, Mr Netanyahu would have 66 seats in the 120-member Knesset, or parliament. | With Labour's support, Mr Netanyahu would have 66 seats in the 120-member Knesset, or parliament. |
| The Labour party, including its 13 Knesset members, is divided over whether to join a Netanyahu coalition. | The Labour party, including its 13 Knesset members, is divided over whether to join a Netanyahu coalition. |
| Mr Netanyahu has previously refused to sign up to the two-state formula which has underpinned more than 15 years of Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts. | Mr Netanyahu has previously refused to sign up to the two-state formula which has underpinned more than 15 years of Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts. |
| Netanyahu comeback | Netanyahu comeback |
| A Likud member of the Knesset, Yuli-Yoel Edelstein, said there was general agreement between Likud and Labour on the main international challenges facing the incoming government. | A Likud member of the Knesset, Yuli-Yoel Edelstein, said there was general agreement between Likud and Labour on the main international challenges facing the incoming government. |
| FROM THE BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service | |
| "In terms of other issues like the peace process with the Palestinians, and probably other day-to-day issues, there will be an argument, but this is not what's going to bring the government down," he told the BBC. | "In terms of other issues like the peace process with the Palestinians, and probably other day-to-day issues, there will be an argument, but this is not what's going to bring the government down," he told the BBC. |
| "Because in practical terms, I don't think that either side really believes that it's possible to reach an agreement with the present Palestinian leadership in the near future." | "Because in practical terms, I don't think that either side really believes that it's possible to reach an agreement with the present Palestinian leadership in the near future." |
| Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni's Kadima party finished narrowly ahead of Likud in the election held on 10 February, gaining 28 seats to Likud's 27, but President Shimon Peres called on Mr Netanyahu first to try to form a government. | Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni's Kadima party finished narrowly ahead of Likud in the election held on 10 February, gaining 28 seats to Likud's 27, but President Shimon Peres called on Mr Netanyahu first to try to form a government. |
| Ms Livni has ruled out joining a Likud coalition, saying Kadima would remain in opposition. | Ms Livni has ruled out joining a Likud coalition, saying Kadima would remain in opposition. |
| If Mr Netanyahu manages to form a coalition, analysts say it will mark a significant political comeback for the politician, who was prime minister in the 1990s. | If Mr Netanyahu manages to form a coalition, analysts say it will mark a significant political comeback for the politician, who was prime minister in the 1990s. |