Olmert was recommended by six parties, though not all of them did so whole-heartedly. It appears that only Kadima - Olmert's own party - and the Pensioners never seriously considered another alternative. Labor and Meretz would have preferred Labor leader Amir Peretz, and Shas and United Torah Judaism would have joined a right-wing/religious bloc against Kadima had it included at least 61 MKs.
The National Union-National Religious Party initially endorsed Peretz, in the hope that he would head an emergency social-affairs government that would stay away from major diplomatic decisions such as a unilateral withdrawal from Judea and Samaria. However, this possibility soon became irrelevant, and the endorsement was withdrawn.
The Likud, Yisrael Beiteinu and the three Arab parties did not endorse anyone.
Katzav met with Olmert today, and said afterwards that he "made a great effort not to delay my decision. I received the official election results just yesterday..." He said he regrets that a "significant proportion of Israel's citizens did not take part in the elections and was not a partner to directing the Knesset and the government."
"The high frequency of elections in Israel," the President said, "has hurt the governments' ability to formulate a strategy, to deal efficiently with the problems, and to run the country's affairs effectively. I hope the new government will fill out its complete term as provided by law."
Olmert said that he hopes to complete the project of forming a government as quickly as possible. It took Ariel Sharon one month, from the day of the elections, to form each of his two governments, in 2001 and 2003, and Ehud Barak took seven weeks in 1999. Binyamin Netanyahu formed his government in just under three weeks in 1996.
In reference to his planned unilateral withdrawal from much of Judea and Samaria, Olmert said, "I announced my diplomatic positions and plans during the campaign, and these plans are known to the public and the international community. These plans will definitely be at the basis of the government that I will head, and this is known to all the potential coalition partners."
He plans to begin official negotiations on Sunday, inviting the parties' representatives to meet with him in order of size. Labor will thus be first, followed by the Likud, Shas, Yisrael Beiteinu, the Pensioners, and UTJ. The Arab parties already informed Olmert that they do not plan to join the government; no Arab party ever has joined an Israeli government.
Olmert has four weeks from today to complete the formation of a government coalition of at least 61 MKs. If he has not succeeded by then, he can ask for a two-week extension. If even by then no government has been formed, the President must choose another MK to form and head a government.