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Last update - 23:51 20/02/2009
Senior Kadima official hopes for 'broad' coalition
By Yossi Verter, Mazal Mualem, Yuval Azoulay, and News Agencies
Tags: kadima, israel elections 

Senior Kadima official Dalia Itzik on Friday said she hoped that Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu would forge a "broad coalition" involving her own centrist Kadima party.

"I hope we will now be able to form a broad government, in which Kadima will be a serious leader. This is because of its size and also because we now want to influence," Itzik told Channel 2.

Itzik, the Knesset Speaker, gave the interview a few hours after Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday accepted a mandate to form Israel's next government.
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Her comments seemed to contradict a statement earlier Friday by Kadima leader Tzipi Livni that her party would likely join the opposition and not sit in a right-wing coalition headed by Netanyahu.

The Knesset speaker added: "We didn't achieve so much in order to sit in opposition. I am the last one to say that I don't want a unity government."

Netanyahu, meanwhile, arranged to meet with Livni on Sunday for coalition talks.

Livni told Netanyahu by phone that he was well aware of her position and there was nothing preventing them from meeting. Both rivals had laid claim to victory after last week's inconclusive general election.

Netanyahu calls for broad, national unity government

Earlier Friday, the Likud leader called for a broad, national unity coalition with centrist and left-wing partners.

"I call on Kadima chairwoman Tzipi Livni and Labor party chairman Ehud Barak and I say to them - let's unite to secure the future of the State of Israel. I ask to meet with you first to discuss with you a broad national unity government for the good of the people and the state," Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu on Friday accepted the formal invitation from President Shimon Peres to form the next government, saying he feels a great responsibility to provide Israel with security and peace.

Netanyahu said that Iran poses the biggest threat to Israel since its War of Independence, and that Israel also faces tough economic times ahead.

Netanyahu, who was prime minister in the 1990s, has six weeks to forge a coalition cabinet.

"I believe that it is in the national interest to establish a government as quickly as possible," said Peres at the press conference in Jerusalem.

"The people of Israel need governmental and political stability so that we will be able to cope with the challenges standing before us," Peres continued. "The challenges are varied and urgent. And the public expects expects that following the elections, a fitting government be formed that will roll up its sleeves and perform its duties faithfully."

Livni earlier in the day said her party was unlikely to join a right-wing coalition headed by Netanyahu.

"A broad coalition has no value if it does not lead the way," said Livni after meeting with President Shimon Peres.

"There is a coalition here based on a lack of political vision," said Livni, "a coalition that will not allow me to exercise the way of Kadima."

Peres on Friday met separately with Netanyahu and with Livni at his official residence in Jerusalem for talks on coalition-building.

The president summoned the two in an effort to promote a broad coalition that would include both Likud and Kadima.

Livni: Kadima won't join far-right coalition

Livni told Haaretz on Thursday that she would not join a government headed by Benjamin Netanyahu that would include Shas, Habayit Hayehudi and National Union, but she would be willing to consider a Likud-Kadima-Yisrael Beiteinu coalition.

Sixty-five MKs - all the right-wing and religious factions - recommended to Peres that he appoint Netanyahu to form the coalition. The left wing and Arab parties declined to make a recommendation.

Livni said Netanyahu was "asking us to join a coalition that he would first establish with Shas, which demanded that I stop negotiating with the Palestinians, and with Habayit Hayehudi and National Union, and with Bibi [Netanyahu] himself, who meanwhile refuses to talk about a two-state solution." She said she would not be able to explain to her voters what she was doing in such a coalition.

Lieberman told the president he would like to see a "trio" coalition of all three big parties. He said a narrow coalition was "a possibility" but that it would constantly have to fight for its survival.

Livni said she has the full backing of her Knesset faction. "Netanyahu wants us to stabilize the government. He won't get us. This is a coalition that will damage the country. It won't be stable, but I won't be there to save Bibi from himself and his partners," she said.

"I hear I'm being offered veto power; Kadima didn't come out the largest party to veto moves in the coalition, but to lead them."

Sources close to Netanyahu have said over the past few days that Kadima might receive two senior ministerial portfolios: foreign affairs and finance, and Livni would be deputy prime minister.

In the face of criticism from party MKs over her talks with Lieberman, Livni said she had tried unsuccessfully to persuade Lieberman not to recommend anyone to the president, and the two parties had almost nothing in common. "I did what I had to do. I am going to the opposition," she said.

Kadima edged out Likud in the February 10 election, capturing 28 seats to Likud's 27, out of 120. But Likud is in a better position to put together a coalition because of gains by Lieberman and other hard-line parties.

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      1.   In English "to see a vision" means to have a delusion, Livni 15:10  |  Realist 20/02/09
      2.   NETANYAHU and IRAN 15:10  |  mike 20/02/09
      3.   A blessed union of and for the People of Israel 15:11  |  Realist 20/02/09
      4.   Livni and Barak should stand firm 15:17  |  Chris Linthwaite 20/02/09
      5.   Netanyahu must be under real hard preassure to call for a unity 15:32  |  Kris Lazar 20/02/09
      6.   Israel, and truth 15:38  |  gerald 20/02/09
      7.   Livni would be "foolish" to join the unity governement..... 15:56  |  Swiss (Dino) 20/02/09
      8.   Heartwarming! 16:00  |  W 20/02/09
      9.   YES!!! 16:15  |  Klara T. 20/02/09
      10.   Can`t say he doesn`t try! 16:15  |  S 20/02/09
      11.   Have fun with your right-wing buddies 16:23  |  Amos 20/02/09
      12.   # DONT HOLD YOUR BREATH!!! 16:24  |  SUNDAY 20/02/09
      13.   a coalition with kadima & Labour he will be betrayel of voters 16:32  |  zionist forever 20/02/09
      14.   Unity 16:37  |  Ze 20/02/09
      15.   It`s all falling into play 16:38  |  Michael N 20/02/09
      16.   To Chris Linthwaite (# 4). Wishful thinking. 16:40  |  flyingdoc57 20/02/09
      17.   BB B a man and lead 16:44  |  Zev 20/02/09
      18.   The beginning of the end for Kadimah 17:29  |  Isidore Weinstein IW 20/02/09
      19.   Amos # 9 Rejectionist Coalition? 17:31  |  Jeff Northridge 20/02/09
      20.   Israel is our Home 17:32  |  Or-can 20/02/09
      21.   Livni, Netanyahu 18:00  |  The Teacher/Instruct 20/02/09
      22.   Livni For the sake of our country..Be more accomodating. 18:03  |  KATHY 20/02/09
      23.   #2 18:16  |  Texan 20/02/09
      24.   why is Livni having talks if she said she prefered opposition 18:27  |  zionist forever 20/02/09
      25.   So now everyone will sit around the same campfire? 18:27  |  Tzfonit 20/02/09
      26.   The people have spoken 18:28  |  Miche Norman 20/02/09
      27.   Bibi`s unprecedented offer is one Tzippi cannot refuse. 19:30  |  Jake 20/02/09
      28.   #13 Or-can Yes Israel is our Home..And 19:38  |  Kathy 20/02/09
      29.   Israel 1st, party line 2nd. thats what most Jews 19:40  |  Ben Kova 20/02/09
      30.   No Point In A Kadima Coalition 19:54  |  UsedToPostHere 20/02/09
      31.   Livni puts personal needs over Israelis government 19:57  |  clist 20/02/09
      32.   This is what happens when you are so proud as to throw yourself a 20:01  |  glenna 20/02/09
      33.   bibi must split kadima 20:58  |  Ari 20/02/09
      34.   just a little precision 21:53  |  Dan 20/02/09
      35.   because of gains by Lieberman and other hard-line parties. 22:01  |  Zev 20/02/09
      36.   Hamas: Israel picked `most dangerous` politician to lead it 22:59  |  Joseph.E 20/02/09
      37.   public wants the right 23:00  |  michael 20/02/09
      38.   Chris Linthwaite 01:17  |  Free Gilad Shalit 21/02/09
      39.   The Hottest Israeli Official Bibi 04:11  |  Persian Kitty 21/02/09
      40.   "hopes for a `broad` coalition" 06:59  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 21/02/09
      41.   Labor, Beitenu, Kadima, and Likud 10:38  |  Basil 21/02/09
      42.   40~ Cipora: Patriots needs no `Coalition" 3rd try. 18:28  |  Akram Zekaria 21/02/09
      43.   Response to # 41 Basil form Seoul 18:37  |  Disgusted 21/02/09
      44.   Bibi is on his own, no Livni, no Obama 18:38  |  Harry 21/02/09
      45.   Dino: Are you serious 19:58  |  Shlomo 21/02/09
      46.   The "way" of Kadima 20:03  |  Moshe 21/02/09
      47.   Cipora #40 about the broad coalition 3rd try 20:42  |  S 21/02/09
      48.   Basid, with or without the relgious parties . . . 20:49  |  Zev Davis 21/02/09
      49.   Livni and N.U.G. 21:05  |  Sandy 21/02/09
      50.   Bad timing. 21:09  |  Bazmann 21/02/09
      51.   S. to Cipora #47: the reasons why that won`t work - 22:53  |  ivo 21/02/09
      52.   If Bibi wants the center, Livni should be PM. 22:54  |  Fortuna Benmayor 21/02/09
      53.   Israel & Palestine Both Need Unity 23:09  |  Mark of Lewiston 21/02/09
      54.   Netanyahu has already betrayed many of his OWN party`s voters 23:18  |  Yaakov K. 21/02/09
      55.   #47, S 23:46  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 21/02/09
      56.   #42, Akram 23:48  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 21/02/09
      57.   Mark (#51), I wonder if actually a small-scale civil war isn`t - 00:34  |  ivo 22/02/09
      58.   #40 Cipora Then you`re stating a unity gov`t means that the 00:56  |  Smadar 22/02/09
      59.   53 Ivo - The Dangers 02:15  |  Mark of Lewiston 22/02/09
      60.   Oh, well 03:14  |  Jim 22/02/09
      61.   #3 Realist the dreamer 03:34  |  Jim 22/02/09
      62.   #4 hold or fold? 03:43  |  Jim 22/02/09
      63.   #51, ivo 07:31  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 22/02/09
      64.   Cipora and ivo You don`t believe in troicas 08:38  |  S 22/02/09
      65.   Cipora 09:07  |  S 22/02/09
      66.   The caravan moves on 17:30  |  Chrisona 22/02/09
      67.   to S #64 10:54  |  zeev 23/02/09
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