Tzipi Livni the head of kadima party, says she refuses to join a governing coalition led by her Likud rival Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu.
"We went to elections and we won," said Livni, whose Kadima Party won 28 of 120 parliament seats in last week's general elections. "You don't need to be
a math genius to know that 28 is more than 27."
"Kadima should be asked to form a government, but there may be other scenarios," she said. "We will serve the public in forming the government or in the opposition."
Netanyahu, whose Likud Party won 27 seats in the Knesset (Israeli parliament), had earlier demanded Livni to join his coalition to form a unity government.
Reports by Israeli media had earlier suggested that Israeli President Shimon Peres would task Bibi in forming a coalition government.
Livni, however, did not seem to be in the favor of such reports. "I have already been No. 2 and from that position I will not be able to advance procedures," she said during closed talks Sunday.
The Livni
remarks come as uncertainty about the results of Tuesday's parliament elections has left Israel in a political limbo. While both Likud and Kadima claim victory in the vote, the public should wait for Israeli President Shimon Peres to decide who will form the new government.
Livni and Netanyahu, the two leading candidates to become the next prime minister, have called on each other to join a broad-based government. Neither of the rivals, however, has indicated willingness to serve under the opponent.
Likud, which could enjoy a coalition of 65 parliament seats with right-wing parties, might form a government without Kadima.
"We will be happy to form a government of 65 without them. If they keep playing poker in hopes of getting a rotation, we will form a government without them," said Gilad Erdan, a Likud member of the Knesset.
"Kadima's attempt to get a rotation is an attempt to steal the will of the public and get a prime minister for two years the public didn't want," he added.
Source: Haaretz Service
"We went to elections and we won," said Livni, whose Kadima Party won 28 of 120 parliament seats in last week's general elections. "You don't need to be
a math genius to know that 28 is more than 27.""Kadima should be asked to form a government, but there may be other scenarios," she said. "We will serve the public in forming the government or in the opposition."
Netanyahu, whose Likud Party won 27 seats in the Knesset (Israeli parliament), had earlier demanded Livni to join his coalition to form a unity government.
Reports by Israeli media had earlier suggested that Israeli President Shimon Peres would task Bibi in forming a coalition government.
Livni, however, did not seem to be in the favor of such reports. "I have already been No. 2 and from that position I will not be able to advance procedures," she said during closed talks Sunday.
The Livni
remarks come as uncertainty about the results of Tuesday's parliament elections has left Israel in a political limbo. While both Likud and Kadima claim victory in the vote, the public should wait for Israeli President Shimon Peres to decide who will form the new government.Livni and Netanyahu, the two leading candidates to become the next prime minister, have called on each other to join a broad-based government. Neither of the rivals, however, has indicated willingness to serve under the opponent.
Likud, which could enjoy a coalition of 65 parliament seats with right-wing parties, might form a government without Kadima.
"We will be happy to form a government of 65 without them. If they keep playing poker in hopes of getting a rotation, we will form a government without them," said Gilad Erdan, a Likud member of the Knesset.
"Kadima's attempt to get a rotation is an attempt to steal the will of the public and get a prime minister for two years the public didn't want," he added.
Source: Haaretz Service
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