Opposition leader declines offer to join Netanyahu government

Dec 28, 2009, 17:04 GMT

Jerusalem - Israeli opposition leader Tzipi Livni on Monday rejected an overture from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to bring her centrist Kadima party into a national unity government.

Livni accused the premier of 'dirty tricks' in trying to woo Kadima members into his right-wing administration - a move seen by some as trying to split the opposition.

'We are not in a state of war,' she said, accusing the premier of a 'cynical abuse of power.'

Reports in the Israeli media said Netanyahu had been actively courting Kadima legislators to get them to leave the party and join his right-wing Likud faction. He reportedly offered them government and non-governmental positions as an incentive to defect.

Netanyahu's offer comes as Livni finds her leadership of her party under increasing attack, with legislators openly criticizing her leadership style.

Kadima was formed in late 2005 when former Israeli Premier Ariel Sharon and several senior legislators bolted the Likud, following a revolt against the then-prime minister over his decision to withdraw Israeli troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip.

After Sharon was felled by a massive stroke, his close political ally Ehud Olmert took over the party leadership, and led it to victory in the 2006 elections. Livni secured the party top spot once Olmert resigned in late 2008, amid a host of corruption charges.

Under her leadership, the party won one more seat than the Likud in the elections in February 2009, but Netanyahu was appointed prime minister after Livni was unable to put together a governing coalition.

When forming his government after the elections, Netanyahu was unable to convince Livni to bring her party into the coalition.