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Barak 'agrees to Likud coalition' Labour backs Netanyahu coalition
(about 7 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 centre-left Labour party has narrowly voted to join a coalition government led by Benjamin Netanyahu of the right-wing Likud.
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. Labour leader Ehud Barak earlier reached a provisional deal with Mr Netanyahu amid divisions within his party over the coalition proposal.
The right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu and Orthodox Jewish Shas parties have already agreed to join a coalition. The far right Yisrael Beiteinu and ultra-Orthodox Jewish party Shas have already agreed to join the coalition.
The moderate Kadima party has so far refused to join. The centrist Kadima has so far refused to join over policy differences.
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.
If he won support from all of Labour's MPs, he would command 66 seats in the 120-member Knesset, or parliament.
He wants to have Labour on board in order to calm widespread fears that a narrowly right-wing Israeli government could jeopardise renewed peace efforts with the Palestinians.
Labour dividedLabour divided
Mr Barak is defence minister in the current government and would retain the post in the next government, Israeli army radio reported. Labour's central committee backed joining the coalition by 680 to 507 votes.
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 Tough dealing ahead for Netanyahu Profile: Ehud Barak Profile: Benjamin Netanyahu 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 Tough dealing ahead for Netanyahu Profile: Ehud Barak Profile: Benjamin Netanyahu
Army radio also said the government would commit to working against unauthorised Jewish settlements in the West Bank. Correspondents say the debate was stormy.
With Labour's support, Mr Netanyahu would have 66 seats in the 120-member Knesset, or parliament. About half of the party's 13 lawmakers objected to Mr Netanyahu because of his long-standing opposition to peace efforts which Labour has backed, Haaretz newspaper reports.
The Labour party, including its 13 Knesset members, is divided over whether to join a Netanyahu coalition. "I am not afraid of Benjamin Netanyahu," Mr Barak told delegates.
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. "I won't serve as a fig leaf to anyone, and I won't be anyone's dead weight. We will be the counter-force that will prevent the formation of a narrow right-wing government."
Some delegates chanted "disgrace" as the result came in.
Mr Netanyahu has refused to sign up to the two-state formula which has underpinned more than 15 years of Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts.
Ehud Barak is defence minister in the current government
Mr Barak is defence minister in the current government and would retain the post in the next government, reports suggest.
Under the draft coalition agreement, Labour would get five cabinet posts and the government would commit to continuing negotiations with the Palestinians and to respecting previous deals made with them.
Army radio said the government would commit to working against unauthorised Jewish settlements in the West Bank.
Netanyahu comebackNetanyahu 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 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 named Mr Netanyahu as the best placed to form the next 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.