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Livni Joins Netanyahu's Coalition to Head Talks with Palestine

In February 2013, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu invited former foreign minister Tzipi Livni to join his coalition and head Israel's peace talks with Palestine. Livni, who formed the Hatenuah party to run against Netanyahu in last month's election, would also serve as Justice Minister. Netanyahu and Livni made the announcement at a press conference. Both said they have set aside past disagreements and rivalries to work together. "I criticized the government's management over the past four years, but since the election, we've come to understandings to put all that aside," said Livni.

The six parliamentary seats won by Livni's Hatenuah party would also join Netanyahu's coalition. Netanyahu's Likud-Beitenu party won 31 seats in last month's election. The accord with Livni and Hatenuah left Netanyahu still needing another 24 seats for a majority in the Knesset, Israel's 120-member parliament. Since the election, Netanyahu has said that he wants to form the "broadest possible national unity government.

On March 18, 2013, Netanyahu's appointments were approved by the Knesset, the legislative branch of Israel's government. Serving under Netanyahu with Livni would be Yair Lapid as finance minister, Gideon Saar as interior minister, and Moshe Yaalon as defense minister. Netanyahu would serve as foreign minister.

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