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      Archive: 3/18/2013
      02:42
      Reported

      News Brief

        3/18/2013, Nisan 7, 5773

      Netanyahu Works Out Last Minute Coalition Deadlock


      The new government is set to be sworn in on Monday, and almost all ministers have been appointed, but Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Sunday night had to work out one more issue within his own party.

      Ministers Silvan Shalom and Yuval Steinitz were fighting over the Water and Energy Ministry (formerly the Infrastructure Ministry), with reports on Sunday night indicating that both were alternately spending time in Netanyahu’s office, each of them trying to convince the Prime Minister to give the position to him. Ultimately it was decided at around 2:00 a.m. that Steinitz would serve as Minister of International Relations. Shalom will serve as Energy and Water Minister and will maintain his role as Minister of the Development of the Negev and Galilee and Regional Cooperation.