Livni Rejects Netanyahu Coalition Offer

Likud leader secures support of ultranationalist Lieberman

(AP) - Benjamin Netanyahu is now all but certain to become Israel's prime minister after winning the backing of Avigdor Lieberman, whose far-right Yisrael Beiteinu party came in third in last week's election. Centrist Tzipi Livni edged out hawkish Netanyahu in the Feb. 10 poll, but Netanyahu has garnered the endorsement of more lawmakers. Lieberman's party made the announcement at a meeting with Shimon Peres, the president, who will now invite Netanyahu to form a government. More»

Livni will join a Netanyahu-led government, parties say

(NEWSER) - While Israel's two possible leaders continued negotiations with smaller parties, a consensus has grown that Likud and Kadima will join forces in a national unity government. According to senior sources in both parties, Benjamin Netanyahu will serve as prime minister, while Tzipi Livni will remain foreign minister. Haaretz also suggests that Avigdor Lieberman, whose hard-right Yisrael Beiteinu came third in Tuesday's vote, may be given the finance portfolio. More»

After near-tie, Livni, Netanyahu scramble to form coalitions

(NEWSER) - Israel's two would-be prime ministers began meeting with possible coalition partners today as the country prepared for weeks of squabbling to resolve last night's inconclusive election, Haaretz reports. With 99% of the votes counted, Tzipi Livni's centrist Kadima has won 28 seats in the 120-member parliament, while Benjamin Netanyahu's hawkish Likud has 27. More»

(NEWSER) - This much is clear: Exit polls show that Tzipi Livni's Kadima Party has narrowly defeated Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud Party, the Jerusalem Post reports. So who will be the next prime minister? Not so clear. In fact, both candidates are claiming the mantle. Israel's election rules say the party with the best chance of forming a ruling coalition—not necessarily the overall winner—gets the post. Given the surge of the right-wing Israel Beiteinu party, Netanyahu has the edge, the Post notes. More»

Seems unlikely vote winner will become Israel's next PM

(NEWSER) - Though her party nabbed first place in Tuesday's Israeli election, Tzipi Livni seems to have shelved her long-shot effort to become the country's next prime minister. The question that remains, writes the Los Angeles Times, is whether she will join forces with Benjamin Netanyahu or go into opposition. "Livni, the moral winner of the election, has to make the strategic decision," said one political analyst. More»