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Last update - 00:34 27/10/2008
Livni: I won't pawn Israel's future for the prime minister's chair
By Mazal Mualem, Haaretz Correspondent, Haaretz Service and News Agencies
Tags: Israel News, Tzipi Livni 

The chair of the ruling Kadima party Tzipi Livni on Sunday told President Shimon Peres that she is standing by her decision to go to general elections, saying "I refuse to pawn Israel's future for the prime minister's chair."

Livni, who hopes to become Israel's first female prime minister in three
decades, has been trying to recruit a majority of 61 MKs to her coalition since she replaced the corruption-tainted prime minister Ehud Olmert as head of the ruling Kadima Party last month. But partners in the current coalition, which took power in May 2006, used the changing of the guard to press new demands.
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Last week, key party Shas announced that it would not join Livni's coalition as its demands were not met. Livni, who termed Shas' demands "extortion," announced that if she was not able to establish a coalition without Shas by Sunday, she would urge the president to call early elections.

Livni told Peres on Sunday that she had done everything she could to try to put together a parliamentary coalition. But she said other parties said they prefer elections.

"If everyone agrees that elections are in order," she told the president, "then we must do it quickly."

She urged Peres to take action to set a date for early elections.

"I know that time will not contribute to advancing the coalition negotiations and that time cannot create a solution, but rather only prolong the uncertainty, and that is the basis for my decision," Livni told a press conference in Jerusalem following her announcement to the president.

"The public is sick of politicking. If I thought that time could bring a solution, I would have tried," she said.

"A prime minister is elected in order to advance the interests of the state," she continued. "Anyone willing to sell their principles for the prime minister's chair does not deserve to sit in it. I have told the president that under the current circumstances elections must be held, and I have instructed the Kadima faction appropriately. The people will choose their leader."

"There are others who are willing to pay any price, but I am not willing to sell the state and its citizens only to become the prime minister," Livni said, referring to reports suggesting that opposition leader and Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu had vowed to comply with Shas' demands if he is elected prime minister.

President Peres lauded Livni's decision and her determination to stick to her principles, adding that he intended to summon the various parties and to give her an answer regarding the elections within three days.

Earlier Sunday, Livni delayed her meeting with Peres at the request of Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik.

On Saturday, Livni said that she was not afraid of general elections, and that was actively seeking them, as she prepared to inform Peres of her failure to form a new coalition.

"We'll go to elections as soon as possible. I'm not afraid of elections," Livni told Haaretz.

The Kadima chairwoman added: "The other possibility was for me to capitulate to extortion. But a government is supposed to advance processes and represent the good of the country, not just to survive in this or that coalition. I promised to exhaust efforts to form a government, and that's what I did."

Her decision means that elections will probably be held in February or March. The next parliamentary poll had been scheduled for 2010.

Following her win in the race for the party leadership in September, Livni had 90 days to put together a government, but has conceded that she cannot do so effectively. The ultra-Orthodox Shas party announced Friday that it would not join a Livni coalition, citing differences over the future of Jerusalem in the peace talks with the Palestinian Authority, and its demand for increased welfare benefits.

Livni said she made Shas a "very good offer" on Thursday, but was not willing to go beyond that. "I have a responsibility, and I decided there's a limit," she said. "I'm not willing to be blackmailed, either diplomatically or in terms of the budget, and therefore, I will go to elections."

Livni informed both Labor Party Chairman Ehud Barak, with whom she had initialed but not signed a coalition agreement, and Meretz Chairman Haim Oron, with whom she was still negotiating, of her decision last night. She also informed Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik.

Livni held consultations with close advisers Saturday on whether to seek early elections, or pursue efforts to forge a government with a razor-thin majority in the Knesset.

Aides to Barak said the party would be reluctant to join a narrow coalition of just 63 lawmakers. After being informed of the Shas decision, Barak told Livni a narrow coalition would be problematic.

Earlier, political allies had speculated that Livni may still manage to forge a smaller parliamentary majority with three other parties and Labor, headed by Barak.

Livni had initially hoped that even without Shas, she would still be able to form a narrow government. Over the weekend, however, both United Torah Judaism and the Pensioners Party - at least one of which was essential for such a government - rejected the offers she had made them on Thursday, and at the same time, opposition to the idea of a narrow government swelled, both within her own party and in Labor.

She therefore called a meeting of her key advisors last night, and in an unusual move, also invited her chief rival in Kadima, Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz. The participants concluded that to continue the negotiations would merely erode Livni's image and subject her to greater extortion, and that she was better off taking the initiative and portraying herself as a leader who refuses to give in to extortion.

Until Friday, Livni had been confident that she would be able to form a coalition with Shas - which was demanding an NIS 1 billion increase in child allowances - as she believed the offer she made on Thursday ought to satisfy it. She was therefore shocked when it informed her on Friday that its Council of Torah Sages had decided against joining her government.

Livni's negotiators then went to UTJ with the same offer she had made to Shas, but faction chairman MK Yaakov Litzman was adamant: UTJ, he said, would not enter the government without a clear commitment that there will be no negotiations with the Palestinians about dividing Jerusalem.

Next, they went to MK Avraham Ravitz, head of UTJ's Degel Hatorah faction, in the hope that they could split the party and get Degel's three MKs to join the government. However, that failed as well.

"It isn't too late," Tzahi Hanegbi, a Livni ally and Kadima lawmaker involved in the talks, told Channel 2 television.

Hanegbi said Livni was exploring whether she could set up a government with smaller parties other than Shas.

"If we can establish a functioning government, it will be established," Hanegbi said.

Hanegbi said the talks with Shas, a pivotal member of past Israeli governments, had foundered after rightist Benjamin Netanyahu, who polls favor to win an election, had doubled Livni's offer of funds for the poor.

At the same time, talks with the Pensioners had hit a brick wall over the latter's budgetary demands, which Kadima sources said totaled some NIS 2 billion. Moreover, the party said it objected to entering a narrow government in any case.

Livni's associates charged over the weekend that Shas had never intended to join the coalition; it had simply wasted the entire country's time on pointless negotiations.

An early election could kill off the already slim chances of meeting Washington's objective of an Israeli peace deal with Palestinians before President George W. Bush leaves office in January.

Aluf Benn contributed to this report.

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      1.   How could Livni let go of a chance like this ...... 21:00  |  Dagma 25/10/08
      2.   A fair Chance to have Olmert in the back-seat....... 21:34  |  The Threadmill 25/10/08
      3.   Hello we don`t want Kadima 21:40  |  Levi 25/10/08
      4.   Livni must form a narrow government. 22:27  |  Doanld B. Nemer Esqu 25/10/08
      5.   Dagma, does she have any choice? 22:47  |  Mark Lincoln 25/10/08
      6.   afraid of democracy 22:51  |  JoJo 25/10/08
      7.   livni confirms that she is as corrupt as any man 23:05  |  v.hardman 25/10/08
      8.   it almost does not matter 23:18  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 25/10/08
      9.   #1 - sadly I have not idea what you are talking about 23:55  |  redmike 25/10/08
      10.   #2 - did you read the article? 23:57  |  redmike 25/10/08
      11.   She`ll probably lose, but gotta admire her 00:00  |  dyinglikeflies 26/10/08
      12.   #3 - the disadvantage of the US system is that it is not 00:03  |  redmike 26/10/08
      13.   War with Iran less likely now? 00:12  |  Joe Camel 26/10/08
      14.   vote 00:23  |  shimon 26/10/08
      15.   democracy in action 00:24  |  JoJo 26/10/08
      16.   Mark Lincoln, what ya` drinkin? 00:29  |  dyinglikeflies 26/10/08
      17.   Beginning to look like 4 more months of Olmerts smerky smile. 00:41  |  Sarah 26/10/08
      18.   Livni goverment 00:44  |  Alex 26/10/08
      19.   good move 00:53  |  Mark 26/10/08
      20.   #3 Mark Lincoln - You`ve said it...there`s advant & disadvant 00:55  |  Smadar 26/10/08
      21.   for peace i think compromise can fix it. 00:57  |  Simon Mohammed 26/10/08
      22.   # 4 redmike 01:04  |  Axel 26/10/08
      23.   #4 redmike That era of "communism" attraction is gone... 01:13  |  Smadar 26/10/08
      24.   # 7 jojo 01:14  |  Axel 26/10/08
      25.   Netanyahu....THANK GOD!!!!!!!!!! 01:44  |  DANIEL 26/10/08
      26.   At least this farce of a government will finally end 01:51  |  IW 26/10/08
      27.   #13 - Joe Camel: Doesn`t that make Iran War more likely? 02:19  |  Yo 26/10/08
      28.   I wont belive it till its official Livni still has 2 weeks 02:24  |  zionist forever 26/10/08
      29.   Now Peres can be a real king-maker 02:35  |  Sarah 26/10/08
      30.   #7, victor hardman 02:58  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 26/10/08
      31.   No more defeatist Livni government. Thank God!!! 03:10  |  Teddy Baer 26/10/08
      32.   to 26 03:26  |  Northern 26/10/08
      33.   1%er keeping her word? DOUBTFUL 03:55  |  Arie 26/10/08
      34.   THE WAR WITH IRAN 04:02  |  Neutered Observer 26/10/08
      35.   Iran at wars 04:59  |  General Ermolov 26/10/08
      36.   Kadima achieved nothing posative & can`t be trusted. 06:05  |  Akram Zekaria 26/10/08
      37.   Livni Refusal for Exhortion 06:19  |  jed nightingale 26/10/08
      38.   This election will be the end to the so called `left` 06:41  |  Meir Weinstein 26/10/08
      39.   Asta la Vista to the female B B and to Kadima. 07:06  |  Yisrael Yitchock 26/10/08
      40.   Good for you tzipi 07:12  |  valerie 26/10/08
      41.   Livni had her chance and fortunately blew it .. 07:43  |  redmike 26/10/08
      42.   To Donald B. Nemer Esqu - Corrupt Likud??? 07:49  |  Dagma 26/10/08
      43.   To Donald B. Nemer Esqu - Corrupt Likud??? 07:49  |  Dagma 26/10/08
      44.   would shas have joined a woman premier under any conditions ? 08:24  |  victor hardman 26/10/08
      45.   To jed nightingale # 37 - She would if she could... 08:41  |  The Threadmill 26/10/08
      46.   It`s time to think of Country, not Party. There`s 08:48  |  R 26/10/08
      47.   PEACE AT 2008? HA..HA..HA.. 09:03  |  indrajaya 26/10/08
      48.   #44, victor hardman 09:17  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 26/10/08
      49.   Israeli elections in the words of the UK Rock group Del Amitri... 09:23  |  Swiss (Dino) 26/10/08
      50.   to #32 09:25  |  The Don 26/10/08
      51.   #49, Dino and israeli elections 09:37  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 26/10/08
      52.   Now that Tzipi Livni has "capitulated".... 09:58  |  Esther 26/10/08
      53.   Cipora #51... let him be...! 10:01  |  Esther 26/10/08
      54.   #30 cipora the new govt must be totally left or right 10:15  |  victor hardman 26/10/08
      55.   livni 10:38  |  ari 26/10/08
      56.   Esther #52 11:17  |  S 26/10/08
      57.   Yes Tzipi, bypass the outlaws & land thieves 11:20  |  Dutch 26/10/08
      58.   "L" is for Livni; "L" is for LOSER 11:40  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 26/10/08
      59.   Good For Livni 11:51  |  MB 26/10/08
      60.   Early Elections in Israel 11:52  |  Fariborz Soltani 26/10/08
      61.   Livni shows courage and good sense of a good leader 12:10  |  Ivar 26/10/08
      62.   elections 12:32  |  colin 26/10/08
      63.   # Cipora Jukianna Kohn 12:37  |  Velvl Shmerlson 26/10/08
      64.   Don`t just tell us coward Tzipi, do it! 12:47  |  Genuine Tosefta 26/10/08
      65.   #63, Velvl 13:01  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 26/10/08
      66.   Livni, H Clinton, same mold 14:42  |  John Isenhower 26/10/08
      67.   Bravo Tzipi 14:51  |  Angel Luis Encinas 26/10/08
      68.   "Livni delays meet with Peres" ! Why ? 14:53  |  Akram Zekaria 26/10/08
      69.   Livni AKA pinocchio lied again 14:57  |  Arie 26/10/08
      70.   Frankly, S #56, I`m bewildered, suspend judgement 15:14  |  Esther 26/10/08
      71.   to #67 As I said, Livinis of the world don´t have conscience 15:56  |  JP 26/10/08
      72.   Typical left-wing wining- Blame Bibi! 16:09  |  Kenny 26/10/08
      73.   Livni Should Have Done This At The Beginning 16:39  |  Livin In Rishon 26/10/08
      74.   Tzahi Hanegbi needs to know when its over 16:53  |  Shepherd 26/10/08
      75.   at the last moment,she will throw a few more shekalim to $has 17:30  |  chaim 26/10/08
      76.   More dirty tricks from squeaky clean Tzipi 17:43  |  Genuine Tosefta 26/10/08
      77.   elections 17:48  |  Ralph 26/10/08
      78.   Re S #56...(2nd later response...) 18:11  |  Esther 26/10/08
      79.   The Right Words at the Right Time...... 18:12  |  Dolly 26/10/08
      80.   Enough of Ransomes 18:12  |  Morris Galgut 26/10/08
      81.   Livni can`t Negotiate her way out of a paper bag 18:17  |  Danielle 26/10/08
      82.   Livni can`t Negotiate with Shas and Barak but 18:21  |  Danielle 26/10/08
      83.   Elections 18:32  |  Steve a 26/10/08
      84.   Missed opportunity 18:33  |  Mr Ipp 26/10/08
      85.   I`m not voting 18:42  |  JS 26/10/08
      86.   Livni 18:59  |  Steven 26/10/08
      87.   Israelis, Select your Leaders Wisely, for WAR is coming 19:29  |  Wissam 26/10/08
      88.   Livini blame "Illegitimate remarks" Not a joke. 19:30  |  Shimon 26/10/08
      89.   The gathering storm that is the one state 19:39  |  Labhras 26/10/08
      90.   LIVNI DIDN`T INVITE MOFAZ TO WORK LIVNI NOT A LEADER 19:39  |  NATAN 26/10/08
      91.   LIVNI DID`N WANT TO SHARE POWER WITG MOFAZ EVERYTHIHG FOR HERSELF 19:41  |  NATAN 26/10/08
      92.   Esther #78 we`re probably going in circles... 19:52  |  S 26/10/08
      93.   Livni COULDN`T sell Israel`s future for the PM seat 20:22  |  Steve 26/10/08
      94.   Livni the phony 20:30  |  Malone 26/10/08
      95.   No need for your advise Wassam and others, just make sure 20:31  |  Genuine Tosefta 26/10/08
      96.   does Shas have voters who are taxpayers? 20:40  |  Shelley 26/10/08
      97.   YUSUF, BROTHER, NOW I`M RELIEVED MYSELF 20:41  |  indrajaya 26/10/08
      98.   HI NATAN!! with a little push from Peres Mofaz could end up PM 21:08  |  Sarah 26/10/08
      99.   except.... 21:40  |  Sheila 26/10/08
      100.   S, did you hear, see Tzipi on TV... both 22 and then 11? 21:49  |  Esther 26/10/08
      101.   livni placed israel above her ambitions 21:54  |  paulo2005 26/10/08
      102.   #89 labarse of arabia the irishman who writes american 22:20  |  v.hardman 26/10/08
      103.   The tyranny of the minority 22:25  |  Argo 26/10/08
      104.   wipe kadima and labor off the political map 22:33  |  chaim 26/10/08
      105.   sanctimonious livni 22:45  |  ron 26/10/08
      106.   After the event, rhetorical pride. 22:53  |  Akram Zekaria 26/10/08
      107.   General Elections? 23:07  |  Helm of Chelm 26/10/08
      108.   Esther, what choice did Tzipi have? 23:12  |  Genuine Tosefta 26/10/08
      109.   So, what *are* the odds of Shas getting into a Likud govt? 23:33  |  Johnboy 26/10/08
      110.   Who is the Shas rabbi in the Reuters news story? 00:05  |  Joe Camel 27/10/08
      111.   noble sentiments but after you sleep with the devil who listens? 00:50  |  yahn goodey 27/10/08
      112.   Queen`s Gambit 01:05  |  Mark Lincoln 27/10/08
      113.   IT`S A MESSAGE TO PRESIDENT BUSH 01:13  |  Ian 27/10/08
      114.   Livni never was P.M. material, especially in these times. 01:32  |  Chaim 27/10/08
      115.   #101 Paulo2005 03:17  |  Malone 27/10/08
      116.   Livni-Last of Kadima`s Three Stooges 03:18  |  Michael Gorinsky 27/10/08
      117.   Regardless of motivation election is the right thing to do 03:21  |  Joe Frazier 27/10/08
      118.   Are they all blind & deaf or gutless? 04:16  |  Harry 27/10/08
      119.   Sorry Harry 05:09  |  Mark Lincoln 27/10/08
      120.   116# Michael Gorinsky. Well said every word of your post. 06:29  |  Akram Zekaria 27/10/08
      121.   livni 08:28  |  robyn 27/10/08
      122.   Middle East Peace 10-Year Plan 13:04  |  Daniel Garcia 27/10/08
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