Ms Livni held a meeting of top party members, which correspondents say she needed to use to close ranks while she tries form a new government.

Election runner-up Shaul Mofaz - loser by just 1.1% - announced after the poll he was quitting politics for a time.

The poll was caused by the resignation of scandal-hit PM Ehud Olmert.

Media reports say the chances for Ms Livni's success in forming a new coalition look far from certain after Kadima's main coalition partner, Labour, was reported to be seeking a snap general election.

Its second largest partner, the orthodox Jewish party Shas, was meanwhile reportedly setting a tough condition for joining the government - no negotiation with the Palestinians on the fate of Jerusalem.

Vital question

Ms Livni was quoted saying at the party meeting that she would try to forge a coalition, but "if I don't succeed, I will go to general elections and win".

"I was sorry to hear of Mofaz's decision and of the fact that he isn't here today," she added in comments reported by the Haaretz website.

"I told him I wish to work with him. Mofaz should keep contributing to the government and to the Knesset."

Some analysts speculated Mr Mofaz might leave the centrist Kadima - and even rejoin the opposition Likud party - so stung was he by the manner of his defeat on Wednesday night.
He lost the election by just 431 votes and supporters say the result could have been different if erroneous exit polls showing a big Livni victory had not been broadcast 15 minutes before polling closed.

Likud officials have already called for early elections, which polls forecast would make theirs the largest party.

"We should allow the millions of Israeli citizens to choose who will lead them and not leave such a vital question in the hands of a few hundred Kadima supporters," Likud leader Binyamin Netanyahu said after Wednesday's vote.


BBC