Kadima Faces Task of Forming Coalition (Israel Election)

JERUSALEM - After declaring victory in Israel's elections, acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's Kadima Party said Wednesday it would quickly form a broad ruling coalition that will carry out its plan to pull out of much of the West Bank and draw Israel's borders by 2010.

...snip...

Kadima won only 28 seats in the election, less than the 35 it had hoped for, but still making it the largest party in the 120-member parliament. Like every other ruling party in Israeli history, it will have to form a coalition government with other parties.

...snip...

Olmert has said he would govern only with parties that accept his program. Likely partners include Labor, which ran on a social platform advocating a higher minimum wage and guaranteed pensions for the elderly; the Pensioners' Party, which also advocates more benefits for retirees; and the dovish Meretz party.

Kadima also will likely target an ultra-Orthodox party, and receive tacit support from Arab parties that won 10 seats.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060329/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_elections_49