Israel's Livni Joins Opposition Chief to Challenge PM in Election

JERUSALEM—

Former Israeli justice minister Tzipi Livni and the center-left parliamentary opposition leader formed a joint election ticket on Wednesday that polls show could pose a serious challenge to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in March.

After months of infighting over Israel's handling of stalled U.S.-sponsored peace talks with the Palestinians, the 2015 state budget and nationalist legislation, Netanyahu last week fired Livni from his cabinet, in effect ending the conservative governing coalition in favor of an early election.

"I am here to create the force-multiplier that will change the government in the State of Israel," Livni told a televised news conference alongside Isaac Herzog of the Labor party.

Polls have predicted Netanyahu's rightist Likud party winning the vote called for March 17, with around 22 of parliament's 120 seats. Running separately, Labor and Livni's centrist Hatnuah party were seen trailing Likud.

http://www.voanews.com/content/reu-israel-livni-joins-opposition-chief-to-challenge-pm-in-election/2553905.html