Netanyahu reaches Israeli coalition deal

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reached a deal to form a new coalition government, a spokeswoman for his right-wing Likud party said on Thursday. "There is a government," the spokeswoman, Noga Katz, said. She said Netanyahu's Likud-Beitenu list would be allied with the centrist Yesh Atid and far-right Jewish Home parties as well as with a smaller faction led by former Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. Coalition agreement signing ceremonies were expected later in the day, with a new government likely to take office next week before a visit by U.S. President Barack Obama.