TIMES ONLINE: Israel faced what could be weeks of political uncertainty today after an election that ended with clashing claims of victory by the Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and her rival Benjamin Netanyahu.
Nearly final results gave Ms Livni's Kadima party 28 seats to 27 for Mr Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party in the 120-member parliament. The Foreign Minister said she would become Prime Minister and invited him to join a "unity government".
Mr Netanyahu, pointing to what he called a large "nationalist camp" in parliament, said he would head a coalition government, comprised of rightist parties.
"With God's help I will lead the next government," Mr Netanyahu, 59, told Likud supporters.
Addressing cheering Kadima activists, Ms Livni, 50, said: "The Israeli public can smile again when we form the government."
She would become Israel's first woman prime minister since Golda Meir governed in the 1970s.
Summing up the stalemate was the front page of Israel's biggest newspaper, Yedioth Ahronoth, with "I won," next to photos of both candidates. >>> Times Online | Wednesday, February 11, 2009
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