Livni: Joining Gov't a Breach of Kadima Voters' Trust

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Sunday after talks with rival Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu that her Kadima party was unwilling to compromise on its path for peace just to join the government coalition.

"The choice is between the advancement and actualization of a vision for two states for two peoples or losing our path in this realm," she told Kadima members following her meeting with Netanyahu, who was chosen Friday to forge a coalition government.

"If we [Kadima] compromise in order to be partners in a government which has a path that is not our path, it will be an embezzlement of our voters' faith," she said.

Earlier Sunday, Israeli outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert urged political leaders during the weekly cabinet meeting to put together Israel's next coalition government "as quickly as possible."

"I call on all those involved and who will be involved in the coalition negotiations to work efficiently and quickly in order to form - as quickly as possible - a government that will enjoy full authority and that will be able to govern effectively," said Olmert.

Moments after meeting with Livni for coalition talks on Sunday, Likud leader Netanyahu warned that he would not be bullied into forming a unity government. "Unity can be achieved by dialogue, not by dictates, not by arm-wrestling," said Netanyahu. "That's what we will do today - we'll begin the effort to join hands, first with Kadima, and tomorrow with the Labor Party."

Livni has vowed since the elections she will not join a government that does not advance the peace process.

Netanyahu added: "I have no doubt that whoever sees the state's best interest will place unity as a central goal.... A real attempt needs to be made to reach a joint position, out of mutual respect and real discussion."

Sources familiar with negotiations between right-wing Likud and centrist Kadima, meanwhile, told Israeli daily Haaretz that Netanyahu was set to offer Livni "full partnership" in the future cabinet.

Kadima won 28 of the 120 available seats in the Knesset during the national elections two weeks ago, beating Likud with its 27 seats. But President Shimon Peres on Friday tasked Netanyahu with forming the next government, due to strong backing from the right, while Kadima has been unable to win support from leftist parties Labor, Meretz and the Arab factions. A coalition needs a minimum of 61 seats, which under Israel's electoral system means courting smaller parties to shore up a government.