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Netanyahu receives key PM support

The leader of the far-right Israeli Yisrael Beiteinu party has said he backs Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu to form the next Israeli government. Yisrael Beiteinu's Avigdor Lieberman made substantial gains in general elections on 10 February. The announcement makes it likely that Mr Netanyahu will be asked by President Shimon Peres to form a government. He can in theory now count on the support of 65 of the Israeli parliament's 120 members.