Sources close to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Monday that if MK Ami Ayalon wins the upcoming Labor party primaries, Olmert will offer him the Finance Ministry. Olmert wants to establish a new ruling coalition within two weeks, they said. If former Prime Minister Ehud Barak wins, Olmert will not offer the ministry, they said, because “we don’t want to make a laughingstock out of ourselves.” Barak has repeatedly said that he will not sit in a coalition with Olmert no matter what ministry is offered.
If Ayalon were to accept the offer, Olmert’s aides said, Labor would have to give up the Defense Ministry, and Olmert would bring back former DM Shaul Mofaz. However, aides to Ayalon said Monday that Ayalon, a former head of the General Security Services (Shabak), would prefer to keep the Defense Ministry.
If Ayalon were to accept the offer, Olmert’s aides said, Labor would have to give up the Defense Ministry, and Olmert would bring back former DM Shaul Mofaz. However, aides to Ayalon said Monday that Ayalon, a former head of the General Security Services (Shabak), would prefer to keep the Defense Ministry.