For anyone following Israeli politics it is clear that anything can occur, and when it comes to a seat at the cabinet table, everything goes. The Movement MK Amir Peretz, who defected from Labor to join Tzipi Livni, told the nation that a main reason for his decision is he feels Labor leader Shelly Yacimovich will join the coalition headed by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, while Livni will not.

Today, a few short weeks later, Peretz is the likely candidate to become the next minister of environmental affairs as The Movement was the first party to enter the coalition. For her willingness to decide first, Livni will be the nation’s next minister of justice, as well as playing a pivotal role in negotiations with the PA (Palestinian Authority) and being a member of the inner forum of senior ministers.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)