Hawkish Likud party leader Benjamin Netanyahu will be tasked with forming a new Israeli government, the president's office announced on Friday. "The president has made a decision regarding the formation of the government and the presidency will summon deputy Benjamin Netanyahu at 14:15 (12:15 GMT) to entrust him with this task," President Shimon Peres's office said.
The announcement came after Peres met separately with Netanyahu and his Likud party rival Tzipi Livni, hoping to convince them to form a broad government alliance. Kadima chief and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni ruled out joining a government led by hawkish Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu after Israel's president pressed the two to form a broad coalition. "I will not be a pawn in a government that would be against our ideals," she said.