Election looms for Israel as coalition fractures

An ultra-Orthodox Israeli party announced today it will not join a new coalition government being formed by prime minister-designate Tzipi Livni, making national elections more likely.

Eli Yishai head of the Shas Party said Ms Livni did not agree to his party’s demands for the allocation of more funds to poor Israelis and for a commitment that parts of Jerusalem will not be ceded to the Palestinians.