Yisrael Beiteinu, the Russian-immigrant and rightward-leaning party led by Avigdor Lieberman, announced today that it demands a change regarding the mention of "reduction of Israeli settlement in Judea and Samaria" in the tentative coalition guidelines.
Shas, too, is now demanding the Interior Ministry, as well as an immediate raise in child allowance payments; see separate story.
Lieberman is a resident of Nokdim, a mixed secular-religious community in eastern Gush Etzion in Judea, and is known to have strong right-wing views. Specifically, his party announced last night that it would not agree to the clause stating that the determination of Israel's final borders will require the reduction of Israeli settlement areas in Judea and Samaria.
MK Yuri Stern explained, "This means that the government promises in advance to remove Jewish communities in Yesha with no obligation from the other side, with no agreement, and with no international recognition. This is not acceptable to us."
Due to the idiosyncrasies of the method of calculating Knesset seats, Yisrael Beiteinu received 11 Knesset seats in last month's election, one less than the Likud - even though the Likud won only 116 votes more than Yisrael Beiteinu.
The coalition that appears to be forming does not include the extreme left-wing Meretz party, contrary to previous expectations. At this rate, the coalition will be broad-based and relatively stable, comprising Kadima (29 MKs), Labor (19), Shas (12), Yisrael Beiteinu (11), Pensioners (7), and United Torah Judaism (6), for a total of 84 Knesset Members.
As the government in formation begins to take shape, it appears that the two large parties, Kadima and Labor, will receive a minister for an unprecedented low of only 2.5 MKs each. Labor will have seven ministers, including two without portfolio, and Kadima will have 12, including the Prime Minister. It had originally been thought that the ratio would be one minister for each 3-4 MKs. The government will therefore have 27-28 ministers, a record number.
Among the ministries Labor will receive are Defense, in place of Finance. MK Yitzchak Levy (National Union) said, "Labor, which claims to represent society's weaker classes, is neglecting the social issues and prefers the personal prestige of the Defense Ministry and the appointment of additional ministries to satiate its lust for power. With the money needed to pay for all those ministers, the basket of subsidized medicines could be increased and other social problems could be solved as well."
MK Michael Eitan (Likud), not surprisingly - his party will not be in the government - also had sharp words to say. "This record number of ministers and deputy ministers testifies that the only glue keeping this coalition together is that of public corruption," Eitan said.
MK Zevulun Orlev (NU/NRP) said, "Labor Chairman Amir Peretz sold his social promises for a bowl of lentils. Labor is once again proving that the niceties of power and the welfare of Palestinians are more important than the welfare of Israeli citizens." Orlev predicted that this "mixed-breed government" will not be able to last very long.
Representatives of Kadima and Labor defended the oversized government. Roni Bar-On of Kadima, expected to serve as Transportation Minister, told Army Radio, "The decisions facing the new government, especially the 'convergence' plan [unilateral withdrawal from large parts of Judea and Samaria], require a broad government. This is the price of democracy. It costs money, and it's impossible to square the circle of political needs within the parties. This is a government that will make important decisions that require a consensus."
MK Eitan Cabel of Labor, who is likely to serve as Minister without Portfolio, said, "It looks like the government is large and distended; this is what Olmert decided and this is how he wants to lead the country and carry out the convergence plan. He wants a broad and strong government that can lead this move."
Shas, too, is now demanding the Interior Ministry, as well as an immediate raise in child allowance payments; see separate story.
Lieberman is a resident of Nokdim, a mixed secular-religious community in eastern Gush Etzion in Judea, and is known to have strong right-wing views. Specifically, his party announced last night that it would not agree to the clause stating that the determination of Israel's final borders will require the reduction of Israeli settlement areas in Judea and Samaria.
MK Yuri Stern explained, "This means that the government promises in advance to remove Jewish communities in Yesha with no obligation from the other side, with no agreement, and with no international recognition. This is not acceptable to us."
Due to the idiosyncrasies of the method of calculating Knesset seats, Yisrael Beiteinu received 11 Knesset seats in last month's election, one less than the Likud - even though the Likud won only 116 votes more than Yisrael Beiteinu.
The coalition that appears to be forming does not include the extreme left-wing Meretz party, contrary to previous expectations. At this rate, the coalition will be broad-based and relatively stable, comprising Kadima (29 MKs), Labor (19), Shas (12), Yisrael Beiteinu (11), Pensioners (7), and United Torah Judaism (6), for a total of 84 Knesset Members.
As the government in formation begins to take shape, it appears that the two large parties, Kadima and Labor, will receive a minister for an unprecedented low of only 2.5 MKs each. Labor will have seven ministers, including two without portfolio, and Kadima will have 12, including the Prime Minister. It had originally been thought that the ratio would be one minister for each 3-4 MKs. The government will therefore have 27-28 ministers, a record number.
Among the ministries Labor will receive are Defense, in place of Finance. MK Yitzchak Levy (National Union) said, "Labor, which claims to represent society's weaker classes, is neglecting the social issues and prefers the personal prestige of the Defense Ministry and the appointment of additional ministries to satiate its lust for power. With the money needed to pay for all those ministers, the basket of subsidized medicines could be increased and other social problems could be solved as well."
MK Michael Eitan (Likud), not surprisingly - his party will not be in the government - also had sharp words to say. "This record number of ministers and deputy ministers testifies that the only glue keeping this coalition together is that of public corruption," Eitan said.
MK Zevulun Orlev (NU/NRP) said, "Labor Chairman Amir Peretz sold his social promises for a bowl of lentils. Labor is once again proving that the niceties of power and the welfare of Palestinians are more important than the welfare of Israeli citizens." Orlev predicted that this "mixed-breed government" will not be able to last very long.
Representatives of Kadima and Labor defended the oversized government. Roni Bar-On of Kadima, expected to serve as Transportation Minister, told Army Radio, "The decisions facing the new government, especially the 'convergence' plan [unilateral withdrawal from large parts of Judea and Samaria], require a broad government. This is the price of democracy. It costs money, and it's impossible to square the circle of political needs within the parties. This is a government that will make important decisions that require a consensus."
MK Eitan Cabel of Labor, who is likely to serve as Minister without Portfolio, said, "It looks like the government is large and distended; this is what Olmert decided and this is how he wants to lead the country and carry out the convergence plan. He wants a broad and strong government that can lead this move."