Likud MK Ze’ev Elkin, who plays a senior role in coalition negotiations has set up two temporary committees to operate until the new government is sworn in and 20th Knesset committees are appointed.

The temporary Knesset Finance Committee will remain under the chairmanship of MK Nissim Slomiansky of the Bayit Yehudi party. The committee includes MKs from a number of parties. Yaakov Litzman will represent Yahadut Hatorah. Moshe Gafne, who is believed to be the incoming chairman of the committee was not appointed.

The temporary Knesset Foreign Affairs & Defense Committee will be headed by Likud MK Yariv Levin.

Elkin stresses the appointments are temporary and they are only until such time the permanent committee begin operating.

The committee responsible for the transition headed by Elkin also announced the 20th Knesset will begin vacation on 12 Nissan until 14 Iyar, after Independence Day.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)