Following his meeting with Binyamin Netanyahu on Monday morning, Labor leader Ehud Barak stated with absolute certainty [for now] that he is heading for opposition. Barak stated if Netanyahu wishes to meet again, he is likely to comply with such a request but added, �We must adhere to the decision of voters who have signaled our position is in the opposition�.

Kadima leader Tzipi Livni continues to release the same messages, indicating a deal to enter a Netanyahu-led coalition is most unlikely, adding however that if Netanyahu is willing to place the demands of the chareidi and right-wing parties aside, there may be room for a deal.

Netanyahu appears unscathed for now; continuing to calmly release messages of unity and the need to put partisan interests aside for the greater good, establishing a broad-based stable coalition government.

(Yechiel Spira � YWN Israel)