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| Livni works for unity in Kadima | Livni works for unity in Kadima |
| (3 days later) | |
| Tzipi Livni, new leader of Israel's ruling Kadima party, is working to restore unity after her victory in a leadership election opened wide rifts. | Tzipi Livni, new leader of Israel's ruling Kadima party, is working to restore unity after her victory in a leadership election opened wide rifts. |
| Ms Livni held a meeting of top party members, which correspondents say she needed to use to close ranks while she tries to form a new government. | |
| Election runner-up Shaul Mofaz - loser by just 1.1% - announced after the poll he was quitting politics for a time. | Election runner-up Shaul Mofaz - loser by just 1.1% - announced after the poll he was quitting politics for a time. |
| The poll was caused by the resignation of scandal-hit PM Ehud Olmert. | The poll was caused by the resignation of scandal-hit PM Ehud Olmert. |
| Media reports say the chances for Ms Livni's success in forming a new coalition look far from certain after Kadima's main coalition partner, Labour, was reported to be seeking a snap general election. | Media reports say the chances for Ms Livni's success in forming a new coalition look far from certain after Kadima's main coalition partner, Labour, was reported to be seeking a snap general election. |
| Its second largest partner, the orthodox Jewish party Shas, was meanwhile reportedly setting a tough condition for joining the government - no negotiation with the Palestinians on the fate of Jerusalem. | Its second largest partner, the orthodox Jewish party Shas, was meanwhile reportedly setting a tough condition for joining the government - no negotiation with the Palestinians on the fate of Jerusalem. |
| WHAT HAPPENS NEXT Ehud Olmert formally resigns as prime minister and his cabinet resigns with himPresident consults parties to pick a Knesset member to form a new cabinet - expected to be the Kadima leaderThe MK has 42 days to form a coalition acceptable to parliamentIf no coalition is formed, another MK may be asked to try to form a government, or a general election may be calledIf a general election is called, it must be held within 90 daysMr Olmert remains caretaker prime minister until the Knesset approves a new government Q&A: Israeli leadership changeTough road ahead for LivniTzipi Livni: Israel's 'Ms Clean' | WHAT HAPPENS NEXT Ehud Olmert formally resigns as prime minister and his cabinet resigns with himPresident consults parties to pick a Knesset member to form a new cabinet - expected to be the Kadima leaderThe MK has 42 days to form a coalition acceptable to parliamentIf no coalition is formed, another MK may be asked to try to form a government, or a general election may be calledIf a general election is called, it must be held within 90 daysMr Olmert remains caretaker prime minister until the Knesset approves a new government Q&A: Israeli leadership changeTough road ahead for LivniTzipi Livni: Israel's 'Ms Clean' |
| Vital question | Vital question |
| Ms Livni was quoted saying at the party meeting that she would try to forge a coalition, but "if I don't succeed, I will go to general elections and win". | Ms Livni was quoted saying at the party meeting that she would try to forge a coalition, but "if I don't succeed, I will go to general elections and win". |
| "I was sorry to hear of Mofaz's decision and of the fact that he isn't here today," she added in comments reported by the Haaretz website. | "I was sorry to hear of Mofaz's decision and of the fact that he isn't here today," she added in comments reported by the Haaretz website. |
| "I told him I wish to work with him. Mofaz should keep contributing to the government and to the Knesset." | "I told him I wish to work with him. Mofaz should keep contributing to the government and to the Knesset." |
| Some analysts speculated Mr Mofaz might leave the centrist Kadima - and even rejoin the opposition Likud party - so stung was he by the manner of his defeat on Wednesday night. | Some analysts speculated Mr Mofaz might leave the centrist Kadima - and even rejoin the opposition Likud party - so stung was he by the manner of his defeat on Wednesday night. |
| HAVE YOUR SAYLivni may not be the stongest leader but she is agood choice in the present situation Asif, PakistanSend us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYLivni may not be the stongest leader but she is agood choice in the present situation Asif, PakistanSend us your comments |
| He lost the election by just 431 votes and supporters say the result could have been different if erroneous exit polls showing a big Livni victory had not been broadcast 15 minutes before polling closed. | He lost the election by just 431 votes and supporters say the result could have been different if erroneous exit polls showing a big Livni victory had not been broadcast 15 minutes before polling closed. |
| Likud officials have already called for early elections, which polls forecast would make theirs the largest party. | Likud officials have already called for early elections, which polls forecast would make theirs the largest party. |
| "We should allow the millions of Israeli citizens to choose who will lead them and not leave such a vital question in the hands of a few hundred Kadima supporters," Likud leader Binyamin Netanyahu said after Wednesday's vote. | "We should allow the millions of Israeli citizens to choose who will lead them and not leave such a vital question in the hands of a few hundred Kadima supporters," Likud leader Binyamin Netanyahu said after Wednesday's vote. |