Olmert clinches first Israeli coalition partner

JERUSALEM, Apr 26 (Reuters) Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's Kadima Party signed up its first partner for an Israeli coalition government today, a party spokesman said.

He said Gil, a pensioners' party with seven of parliament's 120 seats, had agreed to join forces with centrist Kadima.

Olmert, who narrowly won elections last month, still needs the partnership of more factions to secure a parliamentary majority.

Kadima alone commands 29 parliamentary seats. Its favoured potential coalition partner, the centre-left Labour party, has 19. Also in government-building talks with Olmert are the ultranationalist Yisrael Beiteinu and religious Shas party.

Gil's chairman, retired spymaster Rafael Eitan, is expected to support Olmert's plan to set Israel's border around Jewish settlement blocs in the occupied West Bank in the absence of peace talks with the Palestinians.

Israeli media have said Gil will get two cabinet portfolios -- the Health Ministry and a custom-made Pensioners Ministry.

REUTERS DKS PC1944