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New election looming for Israel New election looming for Israel
(about 1 hour later)
Israel appears set for a snap election after the head of the governing Kadima party, Tzipi Livni, said she had given up efforts to form a coalition.Israel appears set for a snap election after the head of the governing Kadima party, Tzipi Livni, said she had given up efforts to form a coalition.
"I'm not willing to be blackmailed," she told Haaretz newspaper. "And therefore, I will go to elections.""I'm not willing to be blackmailed," she told Haaretz newspaper. "And therefore, I will go to elections."
She had given potential partners a Sunday deadline to decide whether to join Kadima. But on Friday the key religious Shas party turned her down. She had given potential partners a Sunday deadline to decide whether to join Kadima in government.
Ms Livni is expected to meet President Shimon Peres later on Sunday. But on Friday the key Shas party turned her down. Ms Livni is due to meet President Shimon Peres later on Sunday.
After briefing him on her attempts to form a new government, Mr Peres has three days to further consult. After briefing him on her attempts to form a new government, Mr Peres has three days for further consultations.
But analysts say Ms Livni's decision effectively means that new elections will have to be held, probably in February or March. If these fail, any other Israeli MP can attempt to form a governing coalition over the next three weeks.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? President Peres has three days for further consultationIf those talks fails, other MPs have three weeks to form coalitionPeres can then call election to be held within 90 daysPoll likely in late February or March
But analysts say no other coalition is likely to emerge and Ms Livni's decision will lead to new elections, which could be held in February or March.
The next parliamentary poll had been scheduled for 2010.The next parliamentary poll had been scheduled for 2010.
Correspondents say she will have a tough fight against Binyamin Netanyahu, the leader of the main right-wing opposition party. Correspondents say Ms Livni could have a tough fight in an early election, which opinion polls suggest could bring the right-wing Likud party to power.
Demands 'Extortion'
Late on Saturday, she told Haaretz that the alternative to elections was "for me to capitulate to extortion". After her election as Kadima leader last month, Ms Livni was asked to form a government to replace that of outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert - who is stepping down amid corruption allegations.
Her coalition efforts suffered a big blow on Friday, when Shas pulled out of talks with Kadima. ISRAELI KNESSET SEATS Current coalition (67 seats): Kadima: 29Labour: 19Shas: 12Pensioners party: 7 Other parties: Likud: 12Yisrael Beitenu: 11National Union-National Religious Party: 9United Torah Judaisim: 6Meretz: 5Arab parties: 10 Coalition needs 61 for majority
The religious party said its two key demands - to increase child welfare payments and keep Jerusalem off the negotiating table with the Palestinians - had not been met. Kadima holds 29 seats in Israel's 120-member Knesset and has secured a draft coalition agreement with the centre-left Labour party, which has 19 seats.
Shas, an extra-Orthodox party, has been a crucial ally in Mr Olmert's coalition, with 12 seats.
But on Friday, Shas pulled out of talks for a new coalition, saying its two key demands - to increase child welfare payments and keep Jerusalem off the negotiating table with the Palestinians - had not been met.
Late on Saturday, Mr Livni told Haaretz that she would not be blackmailed "either diplomatically or in terms of the budget" and would therefore go to elections. The alternative, she said, was "for me to capitulate to extortion".
She added: "A government is supposed to advance processes and represent the good of the country, not just to survive in this or that coalition."
As foreign minister, Ms Livni has been heading negotiations with the Palestinians.
But the talks effectively ground to a halt amid Israel's political uncertainty.
US President George W Bush had hoped to have a Middle East peace deal by the time he leaves office in January.