In a last minute surprise, Kadima Chairman Tzipi Livni managed a come-form-behind victory over Likud Chairman Binyamin Netanyahu in yesterday’s elections. However, her victory does not guarantee Livni’s placement as the next Israeli Prime Minister, as forming a stable coalition may prove difficult due to the 63 seat “rightist” bloc in the government. The next Knesset make-up is:
Kadima- 28
Likuid-27
Yisrael Beitenu- 15
Labor-13
Shas- 11
National Union- 4
Hadash- 4
United Arab List- Ta’al- 4
Meretz- 3
United Torah Judaism-5
Jewish Home- 3
Balad- 3
In order to form a coalition, both parties are attempting to court Yisrael Beitenu’s Avigdor Lieberman. Meanwhile, Ehud Barak has stated that he will not serve as Defense Minister if he cannot muster 20 votes, which he didn’t, and declared his preference to sit in opposition. However, Netanyahu, flatly rejected the possibility of splitting the term with Livni, as had occurred in 1984 between now-President Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Shamir. Labor may also replace Barak as Chairman, with party elections mandated within 14 months of a general election defeat.
