Benjamin Netanyahu's chances of becoming Israel's Prime Minister again were boosted yesterday by the conditional backing of an ultra-nationalist politician who emerged as a kingmaker in a close election.
Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, recommended to President Shimon Peres that he choose Mr Netanyahu to form a government, if the right-wing Likud chief pursued a broad coalition. Mr Netanyahu has said he would do so.
President Peres plans to ask Mr Netanyahu and rival Tzipi Livni of the centrist Kadima party to join forces to form a unity government, a presidential official said.
Mrs Livni and Mr Netanyahu both laid claim to the premiership after Kadima won 28 seats in the 120-member parliament to Likud's 27 in an inconclusive February 10 election that deepened uncertainty about peace moves with the Palestinians.
Mr Netanyahu renewed calls on Mrs Livni and Labour Party leader Ehud Barak to join a coalition under his leadership. Mrs Livni rejected his call, saying her party will sit in the opposition. Labour has said it will do the same.
"I don't intend to be a fig leaf for a government that has no path and is dysfunctional. I don't intend to change my path or to betray the voters for a job in the government," Mrs Livni said before meeting a visiting US congressional delegation.
Mr Peres wrapped up consultations with party leaders and is to meet Mr Netanyahu and Mrs Livni separately today.
Mr Netanyahu served as Prime Minister from 1996 to 1999. During his term he handed over part of the West Bank city of Hebron to the Palestinians.
With Mr Lieberman's support, Mr Netanyahu has the backing of some 65 legislators, enough for a narrow, governing majority of right-wing and Jewish religious parties.
Mr Lieberman, an immigrant from the former Soviet Union who has been at odds with religious parties and is reviled by Israel's Arab community, made unity the theme of his remarks to Peres.
"We recommend Benjamin Netanyahu, only in the framework of a broad government," Mr Lieberman told reporters.
"We want a government of the three biggest parties, Likud, Kadima and Yisrael Beiteinu," he said, without disclosing what he would do if a unity government proved impossible to achieve.
A Yisrael Beiteinu official said Mr Lieberman sought a broad coalition out of concern that creation of a narrow, rightist government could lead to friction with the Obama administration, which has pledged to pursue Palestinian statehood.
Kadima has said it would be willing to relinquish parts of the occupied West Bank in exchange for peace, a position that would put it in conflict with Yisrael Beiteinu and Likud. Yisrael Beiteinu, which won 15 seats in last week's ballot, has angered Israel's Arab citizens by proposing a law under which Israelis would have to pledge allegiance to the Jewish state as a condition for voting or holding office.
The party also wants to trade land inside Israel in which many of the country's 1.5 million Arabs live for Jewish West Bank settlements in any peace deal with the Palestinians.
Under Israeli law, the legislator designated by President Peres to try to form a government has 42 days to complete the task. Traditionally, after an election, past presidents have picked the leader of the party that won the most votes, but there is no legal obligation to do so.