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World Jewish News
Netanyahu begins distributing ministerial posts to Likud MKs
30.03.2009
Prime Minister-designate Binyamin Netanyahu began filling in his cabinet on Monday afternoon, with Likud MKs Michael Eitan, Yossi Peled and Moshe Kahlon being the first to receive ministerial posts.
Eitan and Peled were both told they would be ministers without portfolios, while Kahlon received the entire Communications Ministry, and not just part of it as was initially speculated.
In addition, Peled, who formerly served as OC Northern Command, was told he would be one of the few ministers to earn a seat on the security cabinet. Eitan was also given an additional role of improving services for citizens, computerization and Internet.
The incoming prime minister has had considerable difficulty trying to assuage the political sensitivities of senior members in his own party, who had watched with concern as a number of prestigious portfolios were promised to other parties as a way of enticing them into the coalition. Accordingly, Netanyahu has been forced to create positions which previously did not exist.
One such role was offered to MK Gila Gamliel, who was appointed deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Office in charge of women and young people.
Netanyahu also announced that MK Ze'ev Elkin had won the role as Likud faction chairman, beating out MK Danny Danon, an opponent of Netanyahu in the faction, by a vote of 20 to 7. MK Ophir Akunis, who once served as an aide to Netanyahu, wanted the job, but will not challenge Netanyahu's chosen candidate.
Meanwhile, MK Silvan Shalom, a major figure in the Likud and a political rival of Netanyahu's, intended to reject an offer from the incoming prime minister of the honorary title of vice premier and responsibility for regional cooperation, sources close to Shalom said Sunday night.
Netanyahu hoped the two roles, which were both held by President Shimon Peres in the past, would satisfy Shalom. But Shalom's associates said he would settle for nothing less than the Finance portfolio and the title of vice prime minister, which involves filling in as acting prime minister when the prime minister is abroad or incapacitated, and allowed Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to succeed Ariel Sharon.
Источник: JPost.com
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