Livni reportedly exploring coalition possibilities with Netanyahu

Sources close to both Hatnua chairwoman Tzipi Livni and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that the two parties are investigating the possibility of working together in the next government.

Representatives of the two leaders quickly denied that any negotiations had taken place.

Officials from Hatnua and Netanyahu’s Likud met secretly within the last few days to explore what role Livni’s newly formed party could play in the next government if, as all polls suggest, Netanyahu returns as prime minister, Israel Radio reported.

Livni, a former foreign minister, could potentially be put in charge of negotiations with the Palestinians if such a deal were to take place.

Livni, a former Likud stalwart who later joined Kadima, headed up negotiations with the Palestinians under prime minister Ehud Olmert from 2006 to 2009, with Olmert later claiming a deal was close before he quit to face corruption allegations and new Israeli elections were called.

Hatnua’s campaign has mostly focused on criticizing the leadership of Netanyahu and former foreign minister Avigdor Liberman, who the party says have brought international isolation upon Israel.