Olmert won146;t exclude any party for coalition

The leading candidates were the Centre Left Labour Party, the new Pensioners Party and one representing ultra-Orthodox Jews. These parties are seen as most likely to agree to his plan for withdrawals in the occupied West Bank. But in an interview with Maariv newspaper, Olmert raised the possibility of bringing the Right wing Likud or Yisrael Beitenu into the government.

Yisrael Beitenu is an

ultranationalist party formed by Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet Union and headed by Moldovan-born Avigdor Lieberman.

Olmert has said all partners would have to accept his plans for setting final borders, ideally through talks with the Palestinians, or failing that by unilaterally dismantling many settlements in the West Bank while bolstering larger blocs.

8216;8216;If Lieberman accepts our diplomatic plan, I don8217;t see why he can8217;t be in the coalition,8217;8217; senior Kadima official Roni Bar-On told Israel Radio.

Megan Goldin

Want India to play role: Haniyeh

Gaza: Palestinian Authority PM Ismail Haniyeh has said that India should play an active role in the Middle East peace process.

8216;8216;India has been one of the leaders of the non-aligned movement and has a sound record in upholding democratic principles. It is well placed to play an active role in the Middle East peace process,8217;8217; he said. He also thanked India for its support for the Palestinian cause.

8216;8216;The Indian representative in Palestine recently met me here and conveyed that his government respects the will of the Palestinian people as seen through the recent elections,8217;8217; Haniyeh said.

The Indian representative had also met Hamas8217; Parliament Speaker, Aziz Dwaik, and New Delhi had agreed to send its West Asia envoy to the region soon. 8212;PTI