Spring Break
Close election forces Israel's left, right into coalition talks
Dion Nissenbaum, McClatchy Newspapers
Issue date: 2/12/09 Section: News
JERUSALEM -- Israeli voters delivered a murky result in Tuesday's national election that left the two top vote-getters declaring victory and claiming the right to become the next prime minister.
With early results showing centrist Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and her Kadima Party slightly ahead of former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his conservative Likud Party, both leaders confidently predicted that they'd lead the next coalition government.
Though Livni held a one-seat plurality over Netanyahu with about 40 percent of the vote counted, the Likud leader appeared to have an edge in forming a new government because Israel's right-leaning parties were projected to secure a majority of seats in the 120-member Knesset.
"The national camp, led by Likud, has won a clear advantage," Netanyahu told his supporters. "The question is not what the polls said. The question is what reality says."
Speaking to her jubilant supporters, who wore "Believni!" buttons, Livni projected the same confidence as she urged other parties to join her in a unity government.
"Today, I hear the words 'national camp' once again, and I want to say in a clear voice: The land of Israel does not belong to the right, just as peace does not belong to the left."
The results propelled both political leaders into coalition talks with Israel's smaller parties that will play a pivotal role setting the ideological direction of the next Israeli government.
Ultimately, it will be up to Israeli President Shimon Peres to decide whether Livni or Netanyahu gets that right.
Israeli analysts projected that Netanyahu would have the best chance of leading the next government.
Livni failed to form a coalition government just four months ago when her inability to win support from the ultra-Orthodox Shas Party led to Tuesday's election. Shas was projected to win around 10 seats.
And her ability to create a stable, like-minded coalition was complicated by the rise in power of Israel's right-wing parties.
With early results showing centrist Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and her Kadima Party slightly ahead of former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his conservative Likud Party, both leaders confidently predicted that they'd lead the next coalition government.
Though Livni held a one-seat plurality over Netanyahu with about 40 percent of the vote counted, the Likud leader appeared to have an edge in forming a new government because Israel's right-leaning parties were projected to secure a majority of seats in the 120-member Knesset.
"The national camp, led by Likud, has won a clear advantage," Netanyahu told his supporters. "The question is not what the polls said. The question is what reality says."
Speaking to her jubilant supporters, who wore "Believni!" buttons, Livni projected the same confidence as she urged other parties to join her in a unity government.
"Today, I hear the words 'national camp' once again, and I want to say in a clear voice: The land of Israel does not belong to the right, just as peace does not belong to the left."
The results propelled both political leaders into coalition talks with Israel's smaller parties that will play a pivotal role setting the ideological direction of the next Israeli government.
Ultimately, it will be up to Israeli President Shimon Peres to decide whether Livni or Netanyahu gets that right.
Israeli analysts projected that Netanyahu would have the best chance of leading the next government.
Livni failed to form a coalition government just four months ago when her inability to win support from the ultra-Orthodox Shas Party led to Tuesday's election. Shas was projected to win around 10 seats.
And her ability to create a stable, like-minded coalition was complicated by the rise in power of Israel's right-wing parties.
Be the first to comment on this story