Israel election: Tzipi Livni fights to become prime minister

According to video at link, this process could take weeks. The right-wing block has a majority. Pres Shimon Peres sets the framework for the bargaining, but has no direct power. Within 7 days he will have to choose the politician best placed to form a government and invite them to try to form a coalition. Then they (which ever is chosen) have 28 days (+ 14-day extension) and if they fail, they go back to square one for another go.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/4594088/Israel-election-Tzipi-Livni-fights-to-become-prime-minister.html

with 65?

needs to change its laws so that you need at least 5% of the vote to get a seat in Knesset. Would greatly weaken the tiny parties that seem to control it.

Statement on the outcome of yesterday’s Israeli elections

J Street congratulates the winners in yesterday’s Israeli elections and hopes the process of forming a new government will be as quick and smooth as possible, given the results.

These are difficult times for Israel and for the Middle East. Serious threats abound, not only to Israel’s future but to broader regional stability and to global security. Time is running out for a workable, peaceful resolution to the conflicts Israel faces with its neighbors, making the term of the next Prime Minister critical to determining the future of Israel.

The top priority of the next Prime Minister needs to be a comprehensive and viable resolution to the conflicts between Israel and her neighbors. We urge all of Israel’s leaders to heed the words of outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that “if the day comes when the two-state solution collapses… the State of Israel is finished.”

As Americans, we believe the results do not change the fundamental American interest in exercising strong diplomatic leadership to achieve a two-state solution and to chart a course to security and stability in the region. This is not only essential for Israel and the Palestinians – it is a critical U.S. interest as well. We are encouraged by and will continue to build support for the Obama administration, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Special Envoy George Mitchell in advancing this agenda and bringing true peace and security to the entire Middle East.

We hope all parties here and in the region recognize, as Israeli journalist Akiva Eldar told us today, that no matter what the exact shape of the Israeli government, there is no more time for “business as usual.” The future of Israel, the stability of the region and fundamental interests of the United States are at stake.

http://www.jstreet.org/blog/?p=150

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"The Likud and Kadima will be able to form a government together under the leadership of Likud chairman Binyamin Netanyahu, on the basis of equality between the two parties, senior officials in both parties said Wednesday.

A day after Kadima leader Tzipi Livni and Netanyahu each declared victory in Tuesday's election, they both began a race against time to form a coalition on paper before President Shimon Peres started the process of appointing one of them to build a government next week.

Netanyahu and Livni both met with the leader of what has become the third largest party, Israel Beiteinu's Avigdor Lieberman, in an attempt to woo him. But Lieberman raised several demands that either prime ministerial candidate would have a hard time accepting.

Livni appointed a coalition negotiating team of five top Kadima ministers and MKs and the party will continue with its political horse-trading in an effort to persuade Peres to let Livni form a government.

But privately, senior Kadima officials said they were well aware that Peres would ask Netanyahu to form a government because of the Right bloc's 65-55 advantage over the Left, and that if Likud offered Kadima a sweet deal, they should take it."

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Kadima officials: Livni should consider sitting in the opposition

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3670588,00.html

Political sources estimate Peres will task Netanyahu with forming next government; Kadima official says Livni 'should not necessarily be dragged into Netanyahu government that also features Shas, Lieberman'

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"Tzipi Livni should consider sitting in the opposition and attacking the Likud's policy, and within a year-and-a-half Kadima will lead the country," a Kadima party official told Ynet Wednesday night amid coalition negotiations launched on the heels of Tuesday's inconclusive general elections.

Political establishment sources estimate that, barring any unforeseen developments, President Shimon Peres will eventually task Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu with establishing the next government.

Earlier in the day Netanyahu met with Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman and Shas leader Eli Yishai, and later told a Likud faction meeting that he would work diligently to guarantee that they would join the coalition as soon as possible.

Lieberman refused to say which candidate his party would recommend to Peres, but political sources said he has already struck a deal with Netanyahu to ensure that the Likud chairman would be tasked with forming the next government.

Political sources postulated that Netanyahu will go to great lengths to include Kadima in his government, and may guarantee Livni's party as many as eight important ministerial portfolios towards this end.

Kadima, for its part, is looking to thwart the burgeoning right-wing bloc, but a party official said Chairwoman Livni should "seriously consider the possibility of sitting in the opposition, and not necessarily be dragged into a Netanyahu government that also features Shas, Lieberman, and possibly united Torah Judaism."

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"The results of Tuesday's election will be finalized Thursday after the votes of Israel Defense Forces soldiers are tallied. These additional ballots could nab Yisrael Beiteinu or the Likud party another Knesset seat, which would put Likud and Kadima on equal standing in terms of Knesset representation."

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Livni: I'll fight on despite poor odds

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"Despite her slim chance of being able to form a government, Kadima leader Tzipi Livni on Wednesday pledged to make every effort to do so "for my voters." However, she said she would not pay "an exorbitant price" for other parties agreement to join her."

<snip>

"A day of coalition talks made it clear to Livni that Netanyahu had a considerable advantage in forming a government. However, she said she was determined to try, mainly for the sake of all the left-wing voters who abandoned Labor and Meretz and voted for her.

Livni said that if she fails to put together a coalition within a few days she will have to decide between joining the opposition or a government headed by Netanyahu.

If Lieberman recommends Livni to President Shimon Peres as his choice for forming the government she would immediately lose her recommendation from Labor and Meretz, political sources said.

Six months ago, with a bloc of 70 center and left-wing MKs, Livni failed to form a coalition. Now, say the sources, she will not be able to do so now with a 44-strong bloc consisting of Kadima, Meretz and Labor, or a hypothetical 43-strong bloc of Kadima and Yisrael Beiteinu, the sources said."

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