MK Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beitenu party, announced on Tuesday evening that in coalition talks, in addition to demanding the defense and absorption ministries, he will ask for the interior and health ministries as well. The two are currently held by Yaakov Litzman (Yahadut Hatorah) and Aryeh Deri (Shas) respectively.

Yisrael Beitenu’s candidate for health minister is Professor Leonard Edelman, who is not serving as a MK at present. Edelman was a former head of the Israel Medical Association, who is known to not be a fan of Yaakov Litzman, who currently serves in health portfolio.

Lieberman adds that all state assistance to chareidi schools will be contingent on including secular subjects in their curriculum. He also plans to dissolve the religious councils around the country and establish a religious services unit in each city and municipality, to permit them to manage their own religious affairs.

Other campaign promises include Shabbos public transportation, civil weddings, and giyur by rabbis serving as a ‘city rabbonim’ appointed by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. This he exclaims will be his basic coalition negotiation demands along with disqualifying the so-called Shabbos Supermarket Law which permits the Minister of the Interior to override local government and order the closure of supermarkets on Shabbos.

When asked if he will recommend Likud or Blue and White for the presidential mandate to form a coalition government, Lieberman explained he will go with the party which accepts his platform as spelled out above.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)