President Shimon Peres told Israeli lawmakers there is no choice but to hold elections, after Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni gave up efforts to form a coalition government.

• 以色列总统佩雷斯说，以色列正在准备进行提前选举。此前，指定总理利夫尼组成联合政府的努力失败。选举可能改变巴勒斯坦和平谈判的方向。