PM Netanyahu and Livni’s opposition party discuss coalition

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held talks again Sunday with opposition leader Tzipi Livni about her party joining a government coalition. Livni's party is the largest in parliament with 28 of its 120 seats against 27 for Netanyahu's Likud.

AFP - Hawkish Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held talks with opposition leader Tzipi Livni on Sunday on her centrist Kadima party joining a broad-based coalition.

"The meeting started at the prime minister's office in Jerusalem at around 7 pm (1700 GMT)," an official said.

Livni's party is the largest in parliament with 28 of its 120 seats against 27 for Netanyahu's right-wing Likud.

But Israeli news reports said he was still offering just two to four ministries without portfolio in an expanded cabinet.

The former foreign minister voiced serious reservations after a previous meeting with Netanyahu on Thursday, saying the offer was a ploy. "This is a transparent media spin," the mass-selling Yediot Aharonot quoted her as saying.

But with several Kadima members threatening to defect to the government, Livni has put the issue on the agenda for discussion by her party's leaders.

Netanyahu's offer comes at a time when Kadima is torn by internal divisions, while the premier is struggling to maintain stability in his government.

He made clear he had no intention of entering lengthy negotiations but insisted his offer is serious.

"I would be very, very glad if Tzipi Livni would agree to join," Yediot Aharonot quoted him as saying. "If all of Kadima is in the government, this would strengthen Israel's standing internationally and on the Palestinian track."

Livni headed the Israeli side in negotiations with the Palestinians last year but they have been suspended since Israel launched a devastating three-week offensive in Gaza last December.
 

Date created : 2009-12-27