It has been a stormy weekend for Likud officials to put it mildly. Senior faction members are waiting to hear who will receive a cabinet post in the incoming administration. Towards that end of the process the candidates have exhibited restraint, refraining from making comments to the media in the hope of joining the government, realizing there will be disappointment among some. The general atmosphere is one of disapproval, with Likud leaders of the opinion Premier-designate Binyamin Netanyahu was too generous with cabinet posts for the coalition partners, leaving too few for Likud, both quantitatively and qualitatively.
Netanyahu has indeed assembled his coalition, currently numbering 69, but the coalition is far from ideal, realizing not all the MKs of member parties will raise their hands in support of the government. At least three Laborites will not support the coalition, including Ofir Pines, Shelly Yacimovitz and Eitan Cabel. This brings the majority to 66 unless party discipline is directed in a major vote.
While the incoming prime minister prefers to hold the finance minister portfolio himself, to personally guide the nation’s economic rehabilitation, he realizes that he must give it to one of the senior candidates of his party, who are left with little in the way of selection regarding cabinet positions. The leading candidates are Dan Meridor, Yisrael Katz, Dr. Yuval Shteinitz and Silvan Shalom, with the latter leading the internal opposition after being passed over for foreign minister, the post he held in the previous Netanyahu-led administration.
Gideon Saar and Moshe Ya’alon are competing for the education post, which is likely to go to Saar. Ya’alon may become the vice premier and a member of the elite security forums after he willingly stepped down as defense minister-designate to clear the way for Ehud Barak, permitting the coalition deal with Labor.
All total, what remains to Likud are the transportation, environmental affairs, communications ministries and possibly health, depending on talks with Yahadut HaTorah.
Unlike Ya’alon, Shalom however is not as forgiving and is likely to launch major opposition from within if he does not receive the finance post, unwilling to accept a ‘junior’ cabinet position. This could significantly impact Likud and the party’s effectiveness in the new administration, but most agree that the prime minister designate is not about to hand the position to Shalom, his longtime political nemesis.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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One Response
Silvan deserves a post before any Laborite. Let him yell, scream and make a scene. Bibi took advantage of his entire party to set the stage for a unity government. That is not what the voters requested.
#1. The entire electoral system needs to be overwhaul..
#2. Loyalty from citizens is a must & should be part of the demands of every party.
#3. There is NO peace partner and the GOLAN and the water resources are ISRAELs only.
#4. Religious freedom & funds on par with all other loyal citizens.