Finance portfolio offered to Lapid, Likud to keep Foreign Ministry

Sources with Likud say they made it clear to Yair Lapid that Foreign Ministry is to remain in Likud-Beiteinu hands; party reports finance portfolio to go to Bennett

Yuval Karni|Published: 03.05.13 , 21:09

Sources with the Likud-Beiteinu said Tuesday evening that Yesh Atid was offered the Finance Ministry.

Meanwhile, the sources stressed that they made it clear to Lapid that the Foreign Ministry, which he has apparently demanded, will remain in Likud-Beiteinu hands.

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It has been revealed that Lapid and Netanyahu held a meeting Friday, though no details about its content were released.

Lapid commented on the issue, saying: "There are a few issues which are still waiting to be resolved. We need to remember that Israeli politics is a politics of surprise.

"Nonetheless, I hope that together with the prime minister and other potential partners we will be able to successfully form a stable and promising coalition that will be able to properly focus on what is best for the country and not what is best for the politicians during the next four-five years working to better the lives of Israeli citizens."

Yesterday, a source close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the prime minister was "leaning towards giving Avigdor Lieberman the Foreign Affairs portfolio, the finance portfolio to either (Yair) Lapid or (Naftali) Bennett, while (Moshe) Ya'alon was the leading candidate for the role of defense minister."

On Monday it was reported that Bennett, the chairman of the Habayit Hayehudi party, is demanding the finance portfolio, while Yesh Atid leader Lapid reiterated his demand to be appointed foreign minister.

Regarding the Finance Ministry, a Likud source cynically noted that "if Bennett and Lapid get along so well, I'm sure they will reach an agreement between them and not fight over the portfolio."

According to assessments, Lapid is not interested in the Finance Ministry and hence it will go to Bennett.