Aviad Glickman – Ynetnews
President Shimon Peres announced Friday he has decided to task Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu with forming the next government.
“Most of the factions have expressed their desire to see a broad government being established, and I asked Mr. Netanyahu that this wish will be reflected in the makeup of the government,” Peres said at a press conference in his official residence.
“The people of Israel need governmental stability in order to deal with the challenges that lie ahead,” the president added.
In his speech, Netanyahu referred to the challenges facing Israel: “Iran is developing nuclear weapons and poses the greatest threat to our existence since the War of Independence. Iran’s terror wings surround us from the north and south”
The Likud leader called on members of all factions, “those who recommended and those who didn’t,” to put all the disagreements aside and focus on the good of the state.
Netanyahu urged Kadima Chairman Tzipi Livni and Labor Chairman Ehud Barak to “join hands” with him, and said that he wished to meet with the two first, for the sake of national unity.
Kadima Chairwoman Tzipi Livni called Netanyahu later Friday and told him she was not opposed to a meeting with him. They are scheduled to meet Sunday.
Livni rejects notion of unity government
Earlier, President Peres met separately with Netanyahu and Livni after formal consultations between the president and the faction representatives have ended.
Peres urged both leaders to form a broad national unity government that will include both Likud and Kadima.
Netanyahu, who was the first to meet Peres, told the president that he understood the need for a unity government. “Immediately after you task me with forming the coalition, I will invite Kadima for negotiations,” said the Likud leader.
“I’m willing to go far in order to establish such a government,” he stated.
