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Last update - 16:39 14/02/2009
U.S., EU indicate they prefer Kadima-Likud unity government in Israel
By Natasha Mozgovaya and Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondents, and The Associated Press
Tags: Benjamin Netanyahu 

While the make-up of the next government remains a question mark in Israel, it appears that the United States and the European Union have already weighed in with a clear preference for a unity government that includes Kadima and Likud.

The U.S. official position is that it looks forward to "working with any government," but in back-channel messages the Obama administration has made it clear it would like to see a unity government in Jerusalem over a narrow right-wing government which would in all likelihood result in a freeze in peace talks with the Palestinians.

Aides to Likud chairman Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Friday that Washington officials did indeed relay the message while associates of Kadima chief Tzipi Livni denied receiving such a message.
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Officially, the State Department said the coalitional line-up is an internal Israeli matter with which Washington does not involve itself.

The European Union's foreign policy chief says a new unity government of Israel's Kadima and Likud political parties would help Mideast peace talks.

EU official Javier Solana says an Israeli government led by Netanyahu would be more difficult for the peace process.

In the most likely scenario for a unity government, Netanyahu would be prime minister while Kadima would hold ministries such as finance, defense or foreign affairs.

Solana also said Friday in Washington that there could be a deal within 48 hours between Israel and Hamas on a long-term cease-fire in Gaza. Egypt is mediating the talks.

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      1.   Long term? 20:46  |  Michael 13/02/09
      2.   US/EU Prefer 20:54  |  Leon 13/02/09
      3.   EU 20:55  |  ira jaffe 13/02/09
      4.   I thought they were not going to get involved? 21:03  |  Avi 13/02/09
      5.   Israel needs a right wing government that will crush Hamas. 21:14  |  Damon 13/02/09
      6.   Get ready for another round of elections 21:24  |  binny 13/02/09
      7.   to #2 maybe Israel needs, but can ? 21:31  |  Robin 13/02/09
      8.   That`s Nice They Prefer That 21:35  |  Baruch Gold 13/02/09
      9.   Bloody U.S. and EU cowards...... 21:37  |  Swiss (Dino) 13/02/09
      10.   to Damon 21:44  |  Antonio da Silva 13/02/09
      11.   But that just what the rightists want.... 21:48  |  Esther 13/02/09
      12.   Obama should tend to his own left-wingers 21:49  |  `The Punisher` 13/02/09
      13.   #2 21:59  |  joan 13/02/09
      14.   Kadima, Likud and Labor unity government is best for Israel...... 22:01  |  Jim 13/02/09
      15.   WITH ALL DUE RESPECT 22:08  |  FAD EGYPT 13/02/09
      16.   so what 22:09  |  bb 13/02/09
      17.   who cares what they say;if this happens it will be a deadlock 22:10  |  glenna 13/02/09
      18.   #2 Leon 22:11  |  Canadian Jew 13/02/09
      19.   Obama does not conduct his foreign policy via the media 22:13  |  Natallie Durson 13/02/09
      20.   to Sr da Silva 22:15  |  Miransky 13/02/09
      21.   No kidding? They understand something about Israel? 22:16  |  S 13/02/09
      22.   #3 ira jaffe 22:20  |  Canadian Jew 13/02/09
      23.   But of course Jim #14! Netanyahu/Livni/Barak! 22:20  |  S 13/02/09
      24.   US/EU prefer? 22:24  |  Dave 13/02/09
      25.   #14 - make peace with who? You`re repeating a worn out mantra! 22:47  |  martin 13/02/09
      26.   And who will give 22:52  |  Mark Lincoln 13/02/09
      27.   Ideal faceoff for US, EU to challenge Settlemets Enterprise! 22:58  |  Ivar 13/02/09
      28.   US, EU should mind their own business 23:02  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 13/02/09
      29.   Who gives a flip? 23:22  |  Salty 13/02/09
      30.   Who cares what the EU thinks, this is Israel.. 23:31  |  Jordan 13/02/09
      31.   ISRAEL`S NEXT GOVERMENT 23:33  |  Canadian Jew 13/02/09
      32.   Suffer swiss Dino, right wing it is.... 23:33  |  Jordan 13/02/09
      33.   National Unity Not Far Fetched 23:47  |  MichaelF 13/02/09
      34.   #5, Damon, what do you mean?? 23:47  |  Silvienne 13/02/09
      35.   #19 - Uninformed Natallie 23:50  |  MichaelF 13/02/09
      36.   Take ya sunnies off Miransky 00:25  |  kiwi girl 14/02/09
      37.   Iran nukes are not a issue concerning only Israel . 00:35  |  Joseph.E 14/02/09
      38.   NO to external inteference 00:42  |  Brod 14/02/09
      39.   To the USA: Get Out of the UN and Israel`s Politics 00:56  |  Dav Lev 14/02/09
      40.   To Martin: 100,000 Rockets Face Israel 01:02  |  Dav Lev 14/02/09
      41.   Ivan on target - #27 01:03  |  Stanley 14/02/09
      42.   It makes sense 01:16  |  ATLAS 14/02/09
      43.   Leon # 2 01:19  |  Al 14/02/09
      44.   Likud and the new government 02:01  |  Hillel Green 14/02/09
      45.   To Swiss (Dino) #9 `Bloody cowards...` 02:02  |  Colin Wright 14/02/09
      46.   New government 02:06  |  Jim Harris 14/02/09
      47.   Both US and Israel have a right to the governments of choice 02:17  |  Avramele 14/02/09
      48.   Israel voted centre-right you dummies. 02:29  |  Irishman in Paris 14/02/09
      49.   This conspiracy to pervert the democratic process will fail 02:58  |  Realist 14/02/09
      50.   Israel will have to live with foreign interference as long as it 03:15  |  Jens 14/02/09
      51.   everybody still got the math wrong, or is it me? 03:18  |  nehemia dB 14/02/09
      52.   US THREATS 03:40  |  DAVID 14/02/09
      53.   Kadima-Likud-Shas with Labour-Meretz leading opposition 03:50  |  Bruce 14/02/09
      54.   To Swiss Dino (# 9). A Swiss talking about cowardess... 04:20  |  flyingdoc57 14/02/09
      55.   Obama resembles a fair and objective man in training 05:34  |  Darth Zaider (Ed) 14/02/09
      56.   eu ,us should do to israel what israel doing in Gaza 05:54  |  paulo2005 14/02/09
      57.   i prefer a conservative US govt 06:07  |  vik 14/02/09
      58.   All the signs 07:00  |  BN 14/02/09
      59.   the repetition of :there can be a perm truce in 48 hrs is old- 07:07  |  Susanna/shoshana 14/02/09
      60.   nehemia dB # 51 Very Funny 07:26  |  Jeff Northridge 14/02/09
      61.   Irishman in Paris,"biggest recession since"30`s" is called a depr 07:33  |  Susanna/shoshana 14/02/09
      62.   American/EU chutzpah 07:42  |  peter 14/02/09
      63.   I am sure that Dying would simplify their lives 07:45  |  UsedToPostHere 14/02/09
      64.   The dfference between Kadima and :Likud 07:48  |  Mark Lincoln 14/02/09
      65.   And what the diffrence between Kadim and Likud means 07:51  |  Mark Lincoln 14/02/09
      66.   Listen to # 18, Canadian Jew 08:01  |  Hanna 14/02/09
      67.   Israel will not allow itself to be destroyed in the interest ... 08:10  |  Jean Van Daem 14/02/09
      68.   Israel is `in` Gaza 08:14  |  Mark Lincoln 14/02/09
      69.   # 32 Jordan 09:32  |  Swiss (Dino) 14/02/09
      70.   #51 Yeah, it`s you......nehemia dB 09:39  |  Johnboy 14/02/09
      71.   the West desperately needs to be listened to 09:42  |  christoph 14/02/09
      72.   # 45 Colin Wright 09:48  |  Swiss (Dino) 14/02/09
      73.   # 53 flyingdoc57 09:59  |  Swiss (Dino) 14/02/09
      74.   They chose that stupid Bush, did we get a say in that? 10:02  |  Tom Lobo Meyer 14/02/09
      75.   USA, EU indicate that they PREFER....?! 10:21  |  Esther 14/02/09
      76.   Economic and military assistance comes at a price 10:49  |  Martin 14/02/09
      77.   world peace is everybody`s issue 10:53  |  european 14/02/09
      78.   Palestinians chose Hamas and the World Had a say in it 11:13  |  Saad Khatib 14/02/09
      79.   US/EU preferences 11:13  |  Joe 14/02/09
      80.   Kadima-Likud Unity Government 11:23  |  Walt 14/02/09
      81.   It appears Olmert will be hanging arround for quite awhile 11:36  |  Ben Kova 14/02/09
      82.   US, EU want to contaminate the world with their cowardice 11:54  |  Cgb spander 14/02/09
      83.   #31 Canadian Jew has it almost correct 12:01  |  Ari ben Yisrael 14/02/09
      84.   For Saad #78 12:08  |  Esther 14/02/09
      85.   Esther the Tel Avivit shows her true colours 12:10  |  Ari ben Yisrael 14/02/09
      86.   it sucks when the "best" you can hope for is... 12:14  |  eric 14/02/09
      87.   Israel voted centre-right you dummies (2) 12:44  |  Irishman in Paris 14/02/09
      88.   To US concerned tax payers 12:49  |  Sceptic 14/02/09
      89.   The world is changing 13:29  |  Tore 14/02/09
      90.   #85 eric - apartheid or occupation? 14:11  |  S 14/02/09
      91.   US trying to influence Israel politics 15:02  |  Justin, US Citizen 14/02/09
      92.   Enough with the spin 15:55  |  Simha 14/02/09
      93.   `Prefer`?, `Unity`? 16:07  |  Michael N 14/02/09
      94.   The US changed, the the world did 16:51  |  Bea 14/02/09
      95.   How will the perspective of history see all this...? 20:49  |  Esther 14/02/09
      96.   #85 Ari Ben Israel 20:51  |  Chris Linthwaite 14/02/09
      97.   swiss{dino},the swiss are recognized the entire world over to be 21:22  |  terrornator 14/02/09
      98.   dino #69 actually it was a "very little joke" 21:26  |  red skelton 14/02/09
      99.   swiss #73 try to get it through your thick skull,america doesn`t 21:32  |  terrornator 14/02/09
      100.   US/EU Prefer 22:12  |  Bill 14/02/09
      101.   36 Kiwi - Get your facts straight! 22:40  |  An Israeli 14/02/09
      102.   U.S. Violated Monroe Doctrine,on non interference 23:37  |  sam 14/02/09
      103.   The men in white coats are coming to take me away, haha 00:00  |  alan 15/02/09
      104.   94 Justin- Israel tries to influence U.S. politics 01:59  |  Don 15/02/09
      105.   My US Gov`t is weak/meek:Yearns for endless Israeli Concessions. 02:04  |  EL 15/02/09
      106.   #89 Tore, there is a problem here 03:46  |  Mark B. 15/02/09
      107.   America doesnt beleieve in democracy as much as they boast 04:40  |  zionist forever 15/02/09
      108.   The Right won the election. Israel rejected Livni`s defeatism 04:44  |  Isaac Rubinstein 15/02/09
      109.   76 04:53  |  zionist forever 15/02/09
      110.   The fundamental proble with denying reality 05:00  |  Mark Lincoln 15/02/09
      111.   About Turkey 13:39  |  K.Margar, 15/02/09
      112.   #95 Esther "how did this (Lieberman`s win) happen to us?" 2nd try 13:45  |  S 15/02/09
      113.   Hi, S #112 18:56  |  Esther 15/02/09
      114.   The problem of justice and power K. Margar 19:09  |  Mark Lincoln 15/02/09
      115.   The problem of justice and power K. Margar 19:09  |  Mark Lincoln 15/02/09
      116.   Militant Israeli Machiavells Promise More Regional Misery 21:55  |  Gray 15/02/09
      117.   # 90 to "S" regarding territories & apartheid 22:22  |  eric 15/02/09
      118.   If I am not for myself who will be? 01:44  |  Motic 16/02/09
      119.   #117, eric 09:25  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 16/02/09
      120.   #112, S 09:35  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 16/02/09
      121.   re Damon #5 `Israel needs...` 10:36  |  Colin Wright 16/02/09
      122.   Cipora #119 11:04  |  S 16/02/09
      123.   eric #117 11:43  |  S 16/02/09
      124.   # 119 to cipora (2nd try) 04:03  |  eric 17/02/09
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