President Shimon Peres on Friday morning will meet with Likud leader Binyamin Netanyahu and Kadima leader Tzipi Livni in the hope of finding some common ground, a way to persuade the party leaders to enter into a broad-based coalition government.

All signs indicate Mr. Peres’ efforts will not succeed, with Livni indicating that she will not enter into a coalition headed by Likud if the deal does not include a rotating premiership position. Netanyahu stated such an arrangement is a non-starter as far as he is concerned.

In any event, Netanyahu is expected to receive the presidential mandate to attempt to build a coalition government. A formal announcement from the president regarding the mandate is expected before Shabbos.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)