Israel’s centre-left Labour party on Tuesday backed a proposal to join the government of Benjamin Netanyahu, in a move that will allow the leader of the rightwing Likud party to govern without the help of extremist fringe groups.

The deal, brokered in all-night talks between Mr Netanyahu and Ehud Barak, the Labour leader, had faced stiff opposition from many senior officials and grassroots members of the centre-left party. It was backed despite the protests of such opponents at a special assembly of Labour officials.