Related links

• 

  ISRAEL

  Netanyahu to form new Israeli government

  Likud party leader Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted the task of forming a new Israeli government, tendered to him by President Shimon Peres on Friday, and called for national unity with Israel's centrist Kadima party and its left-wing Labour party.
• 

  ISRAEL

  Peres set to push for Likud-Kadima unity

  While Benjamin Netanyahu has secured the support he needed from the far-right, President Shimon Peres will act to end the stalemate by asking Likud and rival Tzipi Livni of the centrist Kadima party to join forces to form a unity government.
• 

  WEB NEWS

  Avigdor Lieberman intrigues the blogosphere

  Today on the Web: Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, divides bloggers. Also: two American teenagers who mistreated their cat are identified and arrested after a massive online mobilisation against such cruelty.
• 

  ISRAEL

  Lieberman boosts Netanyahu's PM bid

  Israeli opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu's chances of becoming prime minister have improved significantly after he won the backing of Avigdor Lieberman, head of the far-right Yisrael Beiteinu party, said Israeli army radio.
• 

  ISRAEL

  Livni says no to Netanyahu premiership

  While Israel's centrist Kadima party on Sunday called for a power-sharing deal with the right-wing party Likud, current Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni ruled out any premiership role for its leader Benjamin Netanyahu.
• 

  ISRAEL

  Netanyahu ahead in race to form coalition

  Right-wing Benjamin Netanyahu has a better chance of securing a coalition in the Israeli parliament, observers say, despite official election results showing that rival centrist Kadima narrowly emerged as the top party in parliament.
• 

  COMMENTARY

  How Gaza's tragedy knocked Israel and Syria off the path to peace

  Last month's war in Gaza appears to have pulled the leaders of Israel and Syria from the brink of historic face to face talks.

  (1) comment
• 

  GAZA

  Truce with Israel to be announced, says Hamas

  Hamas has accepted an 18-month truce with Israel in the Gaza Strip, according to the deputy head of the Islamist movement's politburo, Moussa Abu Marzouk (photo). Confirmation is expected from Egyptian mediators within the next 48 hours.
• 

  ISRAEL

  Final results show Livni's Kadima won by a single seat

  Official results of the Israeli general election have confirmed that Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni's governing Kadima party defeated right-of-centre Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud by the narrowest of margins.
• 

  IRAN - ISRAEL

  Iranians see Israeli elections as a no-win situation

  In Iran, hatred for Israel runs high and support for Palestinians is strong. FRANCE 24 special correspondents Sophie Claudet and Alexandra Renard report from Tehran, finding that locals view the Israeli election as a no-win for Iran.
• 

  ISRAEL - ELECTIONS

  Netanyahu's Likud eyeing return to power

  Israel's right-of-centre opposition Likud party, led by hawkish former premier Benjamin Netanyahu, has emerged as the favourite in a campaign dominated by Gaza and the issue of security.
• 

  ISRAEL - ELECTIONS

  Barak comeback falling short in final stretch

  Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak's political days appeared to be numbered following an undistinguished stint as premier. Yet the recent assault on Gaza has perhaps revived the chances of the current Labour Party leader.
• 

  ISRAEL

  Likud in lead ahead of vote, poll shows

  Israel's right-of-centre opposition Likud party, led by hawkish former premier Benjamin Netanyahu, remains the favourite ahead of Israel's Feb. 10 elections, according to opinion polls released on Friday.
• 

  ISRAEL ELECTIONS

  The spiritual - and temporal - heart of Shas

  As the spiritual head of the Shas party, Rabi Ovadia Yosef is the man to meet with in the lead-up to the Feb. 10 polls. It was Shas, after all, that caused the collapse of Israel’s previous government. He could make or break the next.
• 

  ISRAEL - ELECTIONS

  Kadima in disarray as rightists gain ground

  Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni (pictured) has picked up the Kadima party of the disgraced outgoing premier, Ehud Olmert. Yet the centrist candidate has slipped behind the right in a campaign dominated by the issue of security.

  (1) comment
• 

  ISRAEL - ELECTIONS

  YouTube gives a voice to Israeli voters

  YouTube proved to be a powerful tool for democracy in the recent US election, and now it is the Israelis' turn to speak out. The website has become a platform for voters to put questions directly to the candidates ahead of the Feb. 10 poll.
• 

  MIDDLE EAST

  Gaza under attack

  On 27 Dec. 2008 Israel launched one of the deadliest offensives in the Gaza Strip since the 1967 war. 1,300 Palestinians died, Gaza sources say, before a ceasefire ended the 22-day war that has also left thousands homeless and displaced.
• 

  ISRAEL

  Livni calls for elections 'as soon as possible'

  The head of Israel’s ruling Kadima party, Tzipi Livni, said efforts to form a governing coalition had failed and called for early elections after differences with the ultra-Orthodox Shas party proved insurmountable.