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Israel's Likud wins 38 Knesset seats in final count
JERUSALEM (CNN) -- The official count of votes cast Tuesday in Israeli elections shows that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Likud party garnered 38 seats in Israel's parliament, authorities said Thursday. Likud's traditional rival, the Labor Party, won 19, and the upstart, secular Shinui Party won big with 15, figures from Tuesday's election show. The number of seats gained by other parties include: Shas, 11; National Unity, 7; Mafdal, 6; Meretz, 6; Yahadut Hatora, 5; One Nation, 3; Balad, 3; Hadash, 3; Yisrael Ba'aliya, 2; and Ra'am, 2. Sharon's huge victory, however, will not make cobbling together a coalition government an easy prospect. The prime minister will need to put together a coalition government with at least 61 seats in the 120-member Knesset to have a majority. The Israeli leader wants a coalition that is politically tougher than the policies of the vanquished Labor Party but softer than those of Israel's religious right. Addressing the Likud faithful in a nationally televised broadcast Tuesday, Sharon said, "This is not a time for celebration. It is a time to close ranks, to stand side by side to bring a victory over terrorism." Labor Party leader Amram Mitzna conceded defeat, but he repeated his vow that his party would not join a unity government. Mitzna had called for renewed negotiations with Palestinians, while Sharon has vowed not to talk until terror attacks against Israelis have stopped. Sharon has said he wants to cooperate with the United States on a road map for a peace plan with the Palestinians -- with conditions. Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat said Wednesday that Palestinians are ready for peace negotiations with the newly elected Israeli government. Under Israel's parliamentary electoral system, Israeli President Moshe Katsav will ask the leaders of the party winning the most seats to form a government. When Sharon gets the request, he will have 28 days -- which may be extended by 14 days if he needs them -- to form a government.
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