Israel´s Netanyahu faces elusive prospect of stable gov´t

Source: Xinhua | 02-21-2009 08:05

by Deng Yushan

JERUSALEM, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Israeli President Shimon Peres on Friday officially tasked right-wing leader Benjamin Netanyahu with forming the next cabinet, and expressed hope for a stable government in the politically fragmented nation.

Yet in light of the apathy of centrist and left-wing parties toward a rightists-dominated administration and the conflicts of interests between different right-wing parties, a stable government seems like a tall order for the prime minister-designate.

Israeli President Shimon Peres (R) shakes hands with Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu during a joint press conference in Jerusalem, Feb. 20, 2009. Peres officially entrusted Netanyahu with the task of building a coalition Friday afternoon, 10 days after the parliamentary election. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

Netanyahu's center-right Likud party garnered 27 seats in the 120-seat parliament in the Feb. 10 general election, one seat less than the share of the centrist Kadima party, led by chairwoman Tzipi Livni. Yet the Likud-led right wing pocketed 65 seats in total, securing a slim edge over the Kadima-led center-left bloc.

By law, the president assigns the cabinet-making mission to the lawmaker who has the best chance of success. The task usually goes to the leader of the biggest parliamentary faction, but not always.

Following identical and decisive recommendations from the rightist parties, Peres finally sent Netanyahu on a return trip to the prime minister's office.

While few analysts doubt that Netanyahu would piece together a government, the outstanding question is what kind of government he will present: a narrow one with only his rightist allies or a broad one with Kadima on board.

"I call on the members of all the factions... to set politics aside and put the good of the nation at the center," said Netanyahu at the presidential residence in Jerusalem, while urging Kadima and the center-left Labor party to join his coalition.