Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Livni Has Slight Chance to Form Government
Foreign Confidential....
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni has a slight chance of forming a government under her leadership. Her Kadima party won the most votes in yesterday's election but had little chance of building enough support for a coalition, unless she can pull off a surprise deal with Avigdor Lieberman, whose Yisrael Beiteinu party came in third.
So former Prime Minister Benjamin ("Bibi") Netanyahu is likely to be the country's next Prime Minister.
President Shimon Peres must decide whether to call on Livni or Netanyahu, who then has 42 days to form a government. He will have no choice but to tap Netanyahu if enough back him.
Should that happen, it would be the first time in Israel's 60-year history that the winner of an election ends up sitting in opposition.
According to nearly final results, Netanyahu's Likud pary won 27 seats in the 120-seat Knesset; Livni's Kadima, 28. Lieberman's party won 15 seats.
Wednesday, 11 February 2009
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