It seems certain now that Israel's President Shimon Peres will ask former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to lead Israel's next government.

Netanyahu won the backing today of Avigdor Lieberman.

Lieberman is the head of Israel's third largest party, and was considered a kingmaker between Netanyahu and Foreign Mnister Tzipi Livni.

Livni's kadima party won the most votes in Israel's Feb.10 elections, but Netanyahu has more support from the smaller parties in the next knesset.

After Peres talks to all of the knesset parties, he will decide who should build the next government.

If it is Netanyahu, he will have four weeks to try to form a coalition.