Israel's President Peres meets Shas party members in Jerusalem

Avigdor Lieberman (L), leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, attends a meeting with Israel's President Shimon Peres (not pictured) in Jerusalem February 19, 2009. Israeli opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu's chances of becoming prime minister appeared to improve significantly on Thursday after he won the backing of Lieberman, a kingpin politician who heads a far-right party. (UPI Photo/Ronen Zvulun/Pool)