Livni to recommend mid-term polls for Israel

Jerusalem, Oct 26 (PTI) In a big blow to the stalled middle-east peace process, Israel seems to be headed for mid-term polls as Prime Minister designate Tzipi Livni has abandoned efforts to cobble up a coalition and decided to recommend early elections to President Shimon Peres.

Defying demands of potential coalition partners, Livni,
who is scheduled to meet the President Sunday, said she was
"not willing to be blackmailed" and would "go for elections".

If Peres upholds her recommendation then U.S. President
George Bush's dream of signing off in style with a peace
agreement between Israel and Palestinians by the end of the
year will almost certainly go unrealised.

"I'm not willing to be blackmailed, either diplomatically
or in terms of the budget, and therefore, I will go to
elections," Livni, aspiring to become the second woman Prime
Minister in Israel's history, told daily Haaretz.

Her decision means that elections will probably be held
in February or March next year, more than a year ahead of
schedule.

"The other possibility was for me to capitulate to
extortion. But a government is supposed to advance processes
and represent the good of the country, not just to survive in
this or that coalition.

I promised to exhaust efforts to form a government, and
that's what I did," the Kadima party leader, riding high on a
clean image, asserted.

The octogenarian Israeli President is likely to accept
Livni's preference, though by law he could also decide to
appoint another parliamentarian he believes could form a
stable government within 28 days.

Nobel laureate Peres has three days to arrive at a
decision.

Following her win in the race for the Kadima party
leadership in September, Livni had 90 days to put together a
government but could not muster enough support.

The ultra-Orthodox Shas party announced Friday that it
would not join a Livni coalition, citing differences over the
future of Jerusalem in the political process, and its demand
for increased welfare benefits.

"I have a responsibility, and I decided there's a limit,"
Livni said in response adding, "We'll go to elections as soon
as possible. I'm not afraid of elections".

Buoyed by recent poll surveys, the Kadima party leader
also conveyed her decision to Labour Party Chairman Ehud
Barak, with whom she initiated but did not sign a coalition
agreement as well as to left-wing Meretz Chairman Haim Oron,
with whom she was still negotiating and Knesset Speaker Dalia
Itzik.

Livni could still form a coalition with a narrow majority
but her advisers persuaded her against it, and Labour party
Chair Barak opposed it. PTI CORR