JERUSALEM — Israel's Labor Party on Monday rejected Benjamin Netanyahu's appeal to join his future government, hindering the hawkish leader's efforts to create a stable, moderate coalition that would enjoy international support.
The centrist Kadima Party had already reacted coolly to Netanyahu's alliance overtures the night before, making him more likely to rely on a narrow coalition of nationalist and religious parties that could halt peace talks with the Palestinians, harm Israel's ties with Washington or break apart over conflicting domestic agendas.
Labor Party leader Ehud Barak, Israel's current defense minister, said he told Netanyahu his dovish party would serve as a "responsible, serious and constructive opposition."
Netanyahu, undeterred, pledged to keep courting both Labor and Kadima.
"I am not going to give up in this," he said. "I want to try to make every effort to form a national unity government."
