Homes and Property | Home PageHard-line Netanyahu will form Israeli governmentEd Harris13 April 2012Israeli president Shimon Peres chose hard-line Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu to form a government today, ending days of speculation.Mr Netanyahu has the option of forming a narrow coalition with his Right- wing allies or a broad one with his centrist rival, Kadima Party leader Tzipi Livni.Mr Peres made his announcement early this afternoon after meeting Mr Netanyahu and Mrs Livni to decide which should lead a coalition government after Israel's election last week.His choice of Mr Netanyahu was cemented when Avigdor Lieberman, who heads the hawkish Yisrael Beiteinu party, endorsed the Likud leader.Bringing his rival into a broad coalition could help Mr Netanyahu avoid a clash with the US, but Mrs Livni said she would not join a hard-line government."I will not be able to serve as a cover for a lack of direction. I want to lead Israel in a way I believe in," she said.MORE ABOUTIsraelIsraeli Defense ForcesIsraeli Politics