Israel leader seeks wide coalition to face threats
JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel's prime minister says he wants to build a broad governing coalition to face serious security threats to Israel, including Syria's chemical weapons and Iran's nuclear program.
Benjamin Netanyahu told his outgoing Cabinet Sunday that Israel must be ready for any development in the turbulent region.
Netanyahu's ticket won the most seats in last week's parliamentary election, meaning he will likely serve another term as prime minister. But with his traditional hardline and religious allies holding only a slim majority in parliament, Netanyahu has reached out to centrist parties in hopes of building a broad coalition.
On the occasion of international Holocaust Remembrance Day, Netanyahu called Iran the world's leading Holocaust denier. He accused Tehran of seeking to destroy the Jewish state, and said Israel takes the threats seriously.