(Dailytelegraph). President Barack Obama is preparing to wade into the messy aftermath of the Israeli elections by pressing the rival Likud and Kadima parties to form a government of national unity. The president is understood to regard such an alliance as the only way to provide a credible partner in peace talks with the Palestinians - and has let it be known that he is ready to lean on either party to make a deal happen. The indication of his thinking comes as Israeli politicians struggle to create a governing coalition after last week's confused election result. Although the ruling centrist Kadima Party won more seats than its more conservative rival, Likud, the combined parties of the Right won more seats in total than those of the centre and the Left. Shimon Peres, the Israeli president, is edging towards inviting the Likud leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, to form a government, and some Kadima members have sworn they would reject any accord that would put their leader, foreign minister Tzipi Livni, under Mr Netanyahu in a new Israeli cabinet. In these circumstances, an American intervention could be vital. Sources in Washington who have discussed the situation with members of Mr Obama's team now believe that the new president is prepared to play a role behind the scenes to ensure that an alliance can emerge. "His team is prepared to take the plunge privately if it is never made public," said a well-placed source in Washington. The Obama administration insists publicly that it will work with whatever coalition government Israeli politicians come up with. The president's advisers are reluctant to be seen meddling in the messy business of constructing Israeli governments. But they also believe Mr Obama could wield his political capital to ease the birth of a centrist government if one of the main players asks him to intervene.
Sent on the Now Network� from my Sprint® BlackBerry
