JERUSALEM – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has again asked moderate opposition leader Tzipi Livni to join his government.
The Haaretz newspaper reports Friday that if Livni refuses, Netanyahu will try to fragment her Kadima Party and absorb some of its lawmakers into his Likud Party.
Livni says she won't be part of a maneuver to split Kadima. But she says if Netanyahu's offer is serious, then she wants to explore how far he is willing to go in negotiations with the Palestinians.
Livni refused to join his hardline coalition when he formed it in March, but he has since made some overtures toward the Palestinians.
The two met Thursday, amid reports Netanyahu was encouraging some Kadima lawmakers to bolt.
Kadima was formed by former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon after he left Likud. Its parliamentary lineup includes many Likud defectors.
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