Labor Party Set to Join Far-Right Israeli Gov't

Netanyahu gets more time as Labor debates joining coalition

(NEWSER) - Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister-designate of Israel, has been given an extra two weeks to form a government after a breakthrough in talks with Ehud Barak, the leader of the Labor Party and the country's outgoing defense minister. While Netanyahu has been ready to complete his right-wing cabinet this week, Barak seems ready to join in, warning that letting the hard right govern Israel would be irresponsible. 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»

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»

(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»

Netanyahu falls back ahead of vote on Tuesday

(NEWSER) - With four days to go before the Israeli election, Tzipi Livni has pulled within striking distance of Benjamin Netanyahu, whose hawkish Likud Party has led throughout the race. In the last polls before a media blackout, Likud is forecast to win 25-27 seats, while Livni's centrist Kadima would win 22-23. The polls also suggest a major advance for the ultra-nationalist Yisrael Beiteinu, which has relegated Ehud Barak's Labor Party to fourth place. More»