Livni, Netanyahu both claim the people's mandate

With almost all votes counted, Tzipi Livni's Kadima has the most Knesset seats, but the right-wing block will be dominant.

With 99.7% of the votes in Israel's general election counted, it emerges that Kadima has a narrow lead over Likud. Kadima has 28 of the 120 Knesset seats, Likud 27, Israel Beiteinu 15, Labor 13, Shas 11, United Torah Judaism 5, National Union 4, Ra'am-Ta'al 4, Hadash 4, Meretz 3, Balad 3, Habayit Hayehudi 3.

The uncounted votes are mostly those of ballot boxes from army bases, so that, on the basis of voting patterns in previous elections, there is a slight chance that Likud could take one more seat.

Both Kadima leader Tzipi Livni and Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu have claimed victory in the election. "The people have decided Kadima. All that remains is to form a broad government under my leadership," Livni declared. "The land of Israel does not belong to the right, any more than peace belongs to the left," she added.

Netanyahu, in his own victory speech, said, "The people have spoken sharply and clearly. The people want change. With God's help, I will lead the next government. I am sure that I will be able to form a broad, stable government." Netanyahu spoke about security and national pride, but also about peace.

Despite Kadima's apparent win, the right-wing block has a large advantage over the center-left block, with 65 seats to 55. This means that Netanyahu has a much better prospect of forming a government, although Avigdor Lieberman, the leader of Israel Beiteinu, the third largest party, has not yet announced whom he will back. He said his inclination was for a broadly-based right-wing government. Israel Beiteinu has emerged as the power broker in these elections, though with fewer seats than pre-election polls predicted.

One possibility being canvassed is a national unity government with Livni and Netanyahu rotating as prime minister.

President Shimon Peres will consult the party leaders and then invite the person with the best chance of forming a government to try to do so.

For Labor, the result is the worst in its history. Party leader Ehud Barak said he would continue to lead the party.

For Likud too, the result is a disappointment. When the election was called, the party had a clear lead in the polls, that gradually eroded. Voices in the party have sharply criticized its campaign. Nevertheless, the ratio between the right and center-left blocks remained fairly steady throughout, and it appears that voters shifted within blocks rather than between them. The result marks a clear turn to the right by the Israeli electorate.

Referring to Tzipi Livni's unsuccessful coalition negotiations after Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced his resignation and she became Kadima leader, which is what led to the today's election, veteran Likud politician Dan Meridor said last night, "The president does not have to guess. He called on Tzipi Livni to form a coalition, and she failed. There is no doubt that Netanyahu will form a government." Meanwhile, for Kadima, Eyal Arad said, "Tzipi Livni will form a government with anyone who agrees with her basic policy platform. We await the actual results."

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on February 11, 2009

© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2009

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