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Olmert to Mofaz: Stay in government
Prime Minister meets with Defense Minister Mofaz Sunday morning after promising Defense portfolio to Labor party. PM associates say Olmert did not offer Mofaz specific post but would like to see him as cabinet minister
Attila Somfalvi
Round of talks with the losers: Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met with Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz Sunday morning after promising the Defense portfolio to the Labor party, in order to discuss Mofaz's future role in the government.
Olmert told Mofaz he is interested in seeing him as a cabinet minister and part of the country's and Kadima's leadership. Associates of the prime minister sayidOlmert did not offer Mofaz a specific post.
On Saturday it was reported that Olmert agreed to hand the Defense Ministry over to Labor, with Chairman Amir Peretz set to become the next defense minister.
Olmert was also scheduled to meet with Kadima's Uriel Reichman, who was promised the Education Ministry by Ariel Sharon but will not receive it as a result of the agreement with the Labor Party. However, Reichman announced later he is canceling the meeting.
Olmert was expected to offer both figures different posts.
According to earlier estimates, Mofaz will be offered to take over the Industry, Trade and Labor Ministry while Reichman will be tempted with the Justice Ministry. However, some senior officials in Kadima said such offer to Reichman was far from certain.
After making it clear the Defense and Education portfolios will be given to Labor, Olmert was expected to call on Mofaz and Reichman to take part in Kadima's leadership and in the leadership of the country.
In recent days, Reichman said in closed sessions that once he is sworn in to the Knesset he would be able to address a matter he finds of particular interest, namely changing Israel's system of government.
As a result, political sources estimated that Reichman made the comments in light of information he received that made it clear to him he would not be appointed as Education Minister as promised.
Meanwhile, ultra-Orthodox sources expressed their satisfaction over the handing over of the Education portfolio to Labor's Yuli Tamir as opposed to Reichman, who stirred much opposition among Orthodox circles.
"The ultra-Orthodox objection to Professor Reichman's appointment bore fruit," one source said.
| First Published: | 04.23.06, 10:09 |
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