Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Sunday called on Kadima chair Tzipi Livni to join his government, like former prime minister Menahem Begin did before the Six Day War.

"The State of Israel stands before huge challenges," he said at the weekly cabinet meeting. "I really hope that Kadima will respond to my offer, and join the government. I hope they will do what Menahem Begin did in his time."

Begin and his Gahal party joined a national unity government under then-prime minister Levi Eshkol at the outbreak of the 1967 war, after sitting in the opposition since the founding of the state in 1948.

The prime minister's comments came after he invited Livni to join his coalition, during a Thursday meeting between the two leaders.

Livni was meeting with advisers in Ramat Gan Sunday morning, ahead of a Sunday evening meeting with Netanyahu, to discuss forming a national-unity government.

In a report broadcast on Israel Radio on Sunday, meanwhile, Kadima faction chairwoman Dalia Itzik responded to the prime minister's offer, calling it "rotten and deceptive."

According to Itzik, Netanyahu offered just a few days ago seven portfolios to seven Kadima MKs, based on those seven defecting from the Kadima party.

However now, Itzik said, Netanyahu is offering just two to all 28 Kadima Knesset members.