Israeli PM-designate wants early elections

JERUSALEM – Prime Minister-designate Tzipi Livni yesterday abandoned her efforts to form a new coalition government and said she would recommend early parliamentary elections.

Palestinians worried the decision could put already fragile peace talks in limbo for months until the elections are held. The balloting could also clear the way for opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu, who rejects sweeping territorial concessions to the Palestinians, to reclaim the premiership.Livni has been trying to cobble together a government since she took over as head of the ruling Kadima Party from the corruption-tainted Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in September.But partners in the current coalition, which took power in May 2006, used the changing of the guard to press new demands.In a statement yesterday, Livni said she was willing to make concessions but had to put a stop to “impossible” demands.”When it became clear that everyone and every party was exploiting the opportunity to make demands that were economically and diplomatically illegitimate, I decided to call off (talks) and go to elections,” she said.Early elections had appeared likely since Friday, when the ultra-Orthodox Shas Party announced it would not join a Livni-led government.Livni resisted Shas’ demands that she refuse to negotiate a power-sharing arrangement with the Palestinians for Jerusalem, whose eastern sector the Palestinians claim as capital of their hoped-for state.She also refused to promise Shas the hundreds of millions of dollars it demanded for social welfare and its religious seminaries, aides said.Shas has been a key member of the outgoing coalition, and without the party’s support, it will be difficult for Livni to maintain a parliamentary majority.Livni planned to formally convey her decision to President Shimon Peres later Sunday, government officials said.Elections for the 120-seat parliament, which were scheduled for November 2010, are likely to take place in February or March, political commentators have said.Livni has been serving as Israel’s chief peace negotiator since talks were formally relaunched last November at a US-hosted summit.The sides had hoped to reach a final peace accord by the end of the year.Nampa-APThe balloting could also clear the way for opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu, who rejects sweeping territorial concessions to the Palestinians, to reclaim the premiership.Livni has been trying to cobble together a government since she took over as head of the ruling Kadima Party from the corruption-tainted Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in September.But partners in the current coalition, which took power in May 2006, used the changing of the guard to press new demands.In a statement yesterday, Livni said she was willing to make concessions but had to put a stop to “impossible” demands.”When it became clear that everyone and every party was exploiting the opportunity to make demands that were economically and diplomatically illegitimate, I decided to call off (talks) and go to elections,” she said.Early elections had appeared likely since Friday, when the ultra-Orthodox Shas Party announced it would not join a Livni-led government.Livni resisted Shas’ demands that she refuse to negotiate a power-sharing arrangement with the Palestinians for Jerusalem, whose eastern sector the Palestinians claim as capital of their hoped-for state.She also refused to promise Shas the hundreds of millions of dollars it demanded for social welfare and its religious seminaries, aides said.Shas has been a key member of the outgoing coalition, and without the party’s support, it will be difficult for Livni to maintain a parliamentary majority.Livni planned to formally convey her decision to President Shimon Peres later Sunday, government officials said.Elections for the 120-seat parliament, which were scheduled for November 2010, are likely to take place in February or March, political commentators have said.Livni has been serving as Israel’s chief peace negotiator since talks were formally relaunched last November at a US-hosted summit.The sides had hoped to reach a final peace accord by the end of the year.Nampa-AP