Kadima, a centrist is currently led by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni who took over following Ehud Olmert's resignation. They held power in a coalition government until the Feburary 10th elections.
Likud& Netanyahu’s Election Victory
Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party is on the right of the political spectrum. He ran on a platform of national security, including the long-term outlook that giving the Palestinians land encouraged Israel’s Islamic enemies. The Israeli electorate listened giving him a slight lead in the popular vote and 27 seats. Kadima had one more seat, but the popular vote handed Likud the victory.
In his first news conference as Prime Minister Netanyahu continued the theme of national security specifically focusing on Iran as the main threat to Israel. He is quoted in the London Times online: “Iran is seeking to obtain a nuclear weapon and constitutes the greatest threat to our existence since the War of Independence.”
He continued later in the same article: “The responsibility we face is to achieve security for our country, peace with our neighbours, and unity among us.” Netanyahu also invited current Defense Minister Ehud Barak to join the administration. According to El Haaretz, Netanyahu is going to offer Livni a full partnership in the next government. Included in the possible deal is an invitation to help Likud draft outlines for government policy.
Senior Kadima officials view their party as Likud's natural partner. Meanwhile, it is widely expected that Ehud Barak's Labour Party will form the opposition.
Hamas, PLO Reaction to Likud's Victory
Hamas has a negative reaction to Netanyahu’s election win branding him and Tzipi Livni Palestinian enemies. They hold out little hope of peace. A Hamas official told the Israeli newspaper El Haaretz: “Tasking Netanyahu with forming a government is a lesson to those who hoped for peace.”
Officials for the Palestinian Liberation Organization told the French Press agency they wouldn’t deal with the Israeli government unless it accepts a two state solution halts settlement and respects past accords.
American Reaction To Likud's Victory
State Department officials say America will work with the next Israeli Prime Minister regardless of it who it might be. In an article in El Haaretz, Spokesperson Gordon Duguid defended the policy saying: “It shows determination by the US to continue to work for a two-state solution in the middle-east and bring stability to the region.” He went on emphasizing the US had been committed to seeing for a number of years, and that wouldn’t change.
American attitudes toward Hamas won’t change until the group has accepted Israel’s existence, stop launching missiles, and stop trying to re-arm via secret underground tunnels.
Netanyahu has six weeks to form a government.
