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Head of the Hatnuah Party Tzipi Livni, has become the first party leader to agree to join a coalition government headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Netanyahu has so far been unable to reach a coalition agreement with the Knesset’s second largest party Yesh Atid or the Jewish Home party, with the two seemingly coordinating coalition strategies. However, it was announced yesterday that Livni’s Hatnuah Party, which won only six mandates in last month’s election, will join the government. Livni will serve as Justice Minister, a position that she filled in Ariel Sharon’s administration. Her party will also receive a second portfolio, likely to be the Environment Ministry, and the chairmanship of a Knesset committee.

As a result of the agreement, Livni will also head the Israeli negotiating team during any future peace talks with the Palestinians and she will also be a member of Netanyahu’s inner cabinet. The agreement itself states, “the prime minister and justice minister will work to resume the diplomatic process,” with any subsequent peace deal requiring the agreement of both the government and Knesset. Hatnuah’s election campaign centred on a call to revive peace talks with the Palestinians and Livni herself spearheaded such negotiations during her time as foreign minister in Ehud Olmert’s government.

At a joint press conference with Netanyahu, Livni said yesterday “The commitment to [peace] negotiations led to a partnership… with the prime minister after I was [given the necessary authority] to negotiate with the aim of ending the conflict with the Palestinians.” Livni continued, “The diplomatic issue is at the centre of our lives.” Meanwhile, Netanyahu commented, “In addition to our commitment to security, we must also make an effort to advance the peace process with the Palestinians.”