Netanyahu will Lead Israel as new Prime Minister After the failure of his last-ditch effort to muster Kadima leader Tzipi Livni's support for a unity government on Friday, President Shimon Peres formally entrusted Likud chairman Binyamin Netanyahu with the task of building a coalition. President Peres tasks Netanyahu with building new gov't Netanyahu arrived at Beit Hanassi on Friday afternoon and received the president's official letter of appointment. Earlier, after emerging from a meeting with Peres, Livni announced that she had no intention of joining a broad coalition under Netanyahu, despite the Likud chairman's assertion that he was willing to "go to great lengths" in order to induce Kadima to join his government. "For decades we have not withstood so many challenges at the same time. To face up to these challenges we need to join hands and unite all the forces within the people. I call on all parties, those who recommended me and those who didn't. I turn to [Kadima leader Tzipi] Livni and to [Labor leader Ehud] Barak - let us join hands and pledge for the future of Israel. I hope to meet with you first and discuss a wide unity government."