Netanyahu, Livni to hold further talks

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For Netanyahu, bringing in the moderate Livni will reduce international pressure on Israel and provide more stability to his government.

On Sunday, Netanyahu expressed his hope to cooperate with US President Barack Obama's administration and advance the common goal of peace.

Israeli Foreign Minister and leader of Kadima party Tzipi Livni attends a meeting of her party at the Knesset, Israel's parliament, in Jerusalem, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

But if he fails to get Livni to join his government, he will be forced to team up with ultra-nationalists in a narrow coalition.

Such a coalition could be unstable, halt peace talks with the Palestinians, and harm Israel's ties with the US administration.

But a narrow government comprised of hawkish factions could put Netanyahu on a collision course with U.S. President Barack Obama and his promise to move quickly to a Palestinian statehood deal.

Netanyahu pledged on Sunday "to cooperate with the Obama administration and to try to advance the common goals of peace, security and prosperity for us and our neighbours."

He has sought to pursue that goal by enlisting Livni's party, which favours trading large parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank for peace, into a national unity government.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei