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Netanyahu: I want wide coalition, beyond the 'nationalist camp'
By Haaretz Service
Tags: kadima, israel news 

Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday evening that he was interested in forming a wide coalition, beyond just the right-wing nationalist camp.

Netanyahu told visiting American Jews that Israel's next government faces enormous challenges that would require the assistance of the state's most experienced and best leaders.

He said that Likud would like to recruit a government from a number of different factions beyond just the "nationalist camp," adding that he hoped these parties would agree.
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Netanyahu has still not been officially appointed to form the coalition, and it is up to the other elected parties to recommend to President Shimon Peres who they would like to see rule the government.

Netanyahu said earlier Monday that he would begin forging a coalition with his party's "natural partners" as soon as possible.

"I am not going to waste time," Netanyahu told Likud members convened for a faction meeting. "I'll assemble as soon as possible a natrrow government with Likud's natural partners."

Kadima, under the leadership of Tzipi Livni, captured 28 out of 120 parliament seats in last week's elections, barely edging out Likud, which won 27. Due to the strength of the right-wing bloc, Netanyahu has a better chance on assembling the government.

Livni has said that she would only agree to join a government with Netanyahu should a rotating coalition be formed, whereby Likud and Kadima would alternate the premiership.

Nevertheless, Netanyahu said that he would form the coalition and that he would "turn also to Kadima, in order to address the financial and security challenges facing the State of Israel."

During the Likud meetin, Mk Silvan Shalom unleashed an offensive against Kadima and Livni, saying that the former ruling party "must immediately stop the shtick, the tricks, and the scheming, not only because she [Livni] spoke about a new type of politics."

Shalom added that Livni "spoke of clean politics, but did all she could to sabotage the standard political process."

The Likud MK added the elections brought to a definitive conclusion that Netanyahu would be the next prime minister, and that Israel must therefore "form a government as soon as possible."

Shalom said it was not in Israel's interests to waver and be indecisive.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert also spoke about the post-election uncertainty on Monday, hinting that it was up to Livni and Kadima to heed the calls of the Likud and join a coalition government.

"I think there needs to be a broad government, with Kadima as a central factor," Olmert said, adding that he hopes "the political circumstances will allow that." This comment came despite the fact that Olmert on Sunday urged Livni to eschew Netanyahu's government and head for the opposition in order to ensure a clear victory in the next election.

Olmert on Monday called on Peres to decide on who should form the government, adding that he trusted Peres "to carry out this task in the correct manner."

Peres made his first public comments about the February 10 elections results on Monday and about the complicated task of building a coalition.

"On Wednesday at 6 P.M., I will get the official results, and until then I hesitate to even discuss the subject with myself for fear that it will be leaked to the press and misinterpreted," Peres said jokingly to a group of Be'er Sheva high school students.

Peres denied that he would try and force Livni and Netanyahu to form a unity government. The president said he would try to fulfill the wishes of the Israeli public.

"The nation told me to consider the election results honestly and as the law prescribes, so I will make my decision after I hear out all the parties," said Peres.

Peres is allowed to assign the task of forging a government to whichever member of parliament he thinks is best able to achieve that goal, and is expected to announce his decision later this week.

Both Livni and Netanyahu have called on each other to join a broad-based government, but neither has indicated readiness to serve under the other.

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  • ANALYSIS / For Livni and Netanyahu, rotating government could be the only option
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      1.   `Best able`? 18:38  |  Morris Valentine 16/02/09
      2.   Livni lost her right to leadership 18:44  |  bat yam 16/02/09
      3.   Blah, Blah,...What is he waiting for? 18:44  |  Realist 16/02/09
      4.   One side neutraizes the other. Result is Zero 18:45  |  Mark 16/02/09
      5.   Bibi said will win during pre-elections campaign, 18:48  |  Joseph.E 16/02/09
      6.   First, there are no natural partner among politicians 19:27  |  Kris Lazar 16/02/09
      7.   Bibi will bring Disaster to Israel 19:31  |  gus 16/02/09
      8.   Why not? Screw it up good ! 19:44  |  Jackie 16/02/09
      9.   Yes, soon, after there is peace with the Arabs. 20:58  |  Fortuna Benmayor 16/02/09
      10.   Isreal 22:20  |  Gerald Gregory 16/02/09
      11.   Nethanyahu knows that the US 22:20  |  Chris Linthwaite 16/02/09
      12.   Bibi Is Next PM Give Him Mandate 22:21  |  Baruch Gold 16/02/09
      13.   A national defence government with or without Livni 01:47  |  Realist 17/02/09
      14.   A national defence government with or without Livni 01:48  |  Realist 17/02/09
      15.   I`d say he`s trying to start a bidding war 01:58  |  Colin Wright 17/02/09
      16.   what a BAD joke! i hope it DOESN`T happen! 09:42  |  eric 17/02/09
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