JERUSALEM — Israel appears headed toward new elections that could pull the Middle East nation to the right.
Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni abandoned efforts Sunday to establish a new governing coalition after she refused to meet demands from ultra-Orthodox Jewish leaders that she pledge not to discuss ceding parts of Jerusalem in any peace talks with the Palestinians.
Acceding to that demand likely would have led to the collapse of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, but elections could sidetrack the flimsy diplomatic process the Bush administration launched about a year ago.
Livni’s decision means Israel most likely will hold elections next year that could return former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to power. Polls show Netanyahu and his more hawkish Likud Party poised to regain control.
Should Netanyahu triumph, he’d almost certainly take a harder line on talks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and with the Islamic group Hamas, which wrested control of the Gaza Strip in 2007.
Livni, who took control of the centrist Kadima Party last month, was trying to become the second woman to lead Israel, but she came up short.
After informing Israeli President Shimon Peres of her call for new elections, Livni said she wasn’t willing to put political expedience ahead of what she thought was best for Israel.
“There are prices that can be paid; there are prices that others are willing to pay, but I am not willing to pay them with the state and its citizens paying the price only to be prime minister of a crippled government,” said Livni.
Prime Minister Ehud Ol mert, who announced in July that he would resign under a cloud of corruption allegations, is likely to remain in his post until after a new U.S. president is sworn in this January.
In a tight race last month, Kadima Party members chose Livni to succeed Olmert as the leader of their party, founded in 2005 by former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
Sharon, Olmert and Livni were all among the Likud Party leaders who bolted from the long-dominant political group and sought to create a more pragmatic, centrist party.
Livni might try to use the next few months to reach a breakthrough with the Palestinians. But the talks appear to have made little progress, and Livni may be wary of bold moves during a campaign.
Livni also could benefit from a cease-fire that has nearly ended rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip. That cease-fire is set to expire in December.
Peacemaking foundered during Netanyahu’s three-year tenure as prime minister in the 1990s.
Netanyahu accepts the idea of a Palestinian state but rejects negotiations with Abbas, claiming the Palestinian leader is too weak.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
