Netanyahu to Form Israeli Government

Despite netting marginally fewer seats than rival Kadima in the most recent elections, the Likud party's leader Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to be picked today by President Shimon Peres to form Israel's next government based on the combined success of other right-wing parties that together form a majority in the parliament. While Netanyahu has reportedly reached out to Kadima's Tzipi Livni to try and include her party in his coalition, Livni has thus far rejected any entreaties, saying that far-right parties allied with Likud would make any progress in peace talks with Palestinians impossible. According to Livni, a "broad coalition is worthless if it is not governed by values," and the mix of centrist and right-wing parties "lacks a diplomatic vision."