Negotiations between Shas and Kadima over the new government appear to have hit a dead end. "Shas won't receive the Interior Ministry and our stance on this issue is determined, a senior Kadima negotiator said.
As the coalition picture becomes clearer, it is becoming clear that Shas is running out of places to go: It can't get the Interior Ministry, the Religions Ministry – and even the Ministry of Trade and Industry has been blocked to Shas members.
The issue of funding has also hit a dead end in talks between Shas and Kadima. On Thursday, a meeting was held between Eli Yishai and Yisrael Meimon, Government Secretary, but no progress was made.
One point of light has been found by Shas members, however: The party expressed satisfaction on the agreement between Labor and Kadima ,under which Labor will win seven portfolios. Shas says that they will therefore demand four portfolios for their party. A Kadima source admitted that the deal with the Labor agreement "created a problem, which we will face later."
'No religious services control'
Voices from the Shas leadership are calling on Yishai to withdraw his demand for the Interior Ministry, and to concentrate on demanding State authority on religious services and finding a "fair compromise" for children's benefits. But the chances of the party receiving full control of State religious services are in serious doubt.
The senior Kadima source explained: "The religious services are going to stay in the Prime Minister's Office. We won't move them anywhere and we won't recreate this portfolio. This issue was made clear to both Shas and United Torah Judaism. Regarding the question of whether a deputy minister will be appointed to preside over religions services from one the ultra-Orthodox parties, there is still no agreement."