Netanyahu given six weeks to form new Israeli government

Jerusalem, Feb.20 (ANI): Israeli President Shimon Peres has chosen hardline Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu to form a new Israeli government.

Netanyahu now has six weeks to put together a ruling coalition, the Jerusalem Post reports.

The question is whether Netanyahu will form a narrow hardline coalition or a broad government along with his centrist rival, Kadima leader Tzipi Livni.

So far, attempts to convince Livni to support a unity government have failed.

A statement released by Peres's spokesman said that Netanyahu would be invited to Beit Hanassi on Friday afternoon in order to receive the president's official letter of appointment.

Earlier, after emerging from a meeting with Peres, Livni announced that she had no intention of joining a broad coalition under Netanyahu, despite the Likud chairman's assertion that he was willing to "go to great lengths" in order to induce Kadima to join his government.

"It appears that the coalition which has been forming in recent days lacks a diplomatic vision," Livni said after the meeting.

The Kadima leader rejected the president's plea that she reconsider joining a coalition comprised of the three largest parties - Kadima, Likud and Israeli Beiteinu - and asserted that a "broad coalition is worthless if it is not governed by values." (ANI)