Middle-level members of both Kadima and Labor are unhappy with the two leaders' decision of yesterday to do away with nearly all Deputy Minister positions in the government being formed. Many of them had been looking forward to being named to these very positions that will now disappear.
The decision has also met with claims that it came merely in response to the public criticism of the large and wasteful government being formed. Olmert is therefore trying to convince Peretz of a new initiative, according to which both parties would agree to do away with one of its ministerial positions. Such a move would leave Labor (19 MKs) with six ministers, and Kadima (29) with 11.
One outgoing Deputy Minister of Kadima said, not for attribution, "If Olmert and Peretz are so ethical and socially sensitive, why don't they cut back on the number of ministers without portfolio? If they would do this, we would agree to the decree regarding Deputy Ministers. It appears that they are simply sacrificing us in order to allay the public criticism."
MK Danny Yatom of Labor also does not like the decision, but pinpointed his criticism: "I am afraid that there will be a major problem if [Defense Minister-designate] Amir Peretz does not have an experienced and dominant Deputy Minister at his side in the Defense Ministry. I therefore suggest that one minister without portfolio be removed instead."
Hareidi Party Breathes Sigh of Relief
The expected appointment of Labor's Yuli Tamir as Education Minister is relatively good news for the hareidi and religious parties. Tamir's appointment led to the departure of Shinui-party founder Uriel Reichman from the Knesset; Reichman had been promised the job by Ariel Sharon, and quit in disgust earlier this week over Olmert's failure to fulfill the promise.
MK Meir Porush (United Torah Judaism) said that Tamir, though staunchly left-wing, is better than Reichman:
"We feel a bit better knowing that the founder of the party that was so hostile to Judaism and the hareidi-religious public will not be the Education Minister. Prof. Tamir is different than Reichman in that her educational platform recognizes Israeli society as multi-cultural, in which every community has the right to teach its heritage and values."
"Throughout the Western world," Porush said, "great efforts are being made to enable special educational programs for minorities: Spanish-speakers in the U.S., North Africans in France, Turks in Germany, and more. Every minority has the elementary right to educate its children according to its values and traditions... We hope that now the government will stop trying to enforce a uniform curriculum on the entire country - a curriculum that has not been shown to be appropriate for all, and certainly not for the religiously-observant public. The hareidi public has the right to pass on its ancient traditions and legacy. We will not accept outside intervention, and our curriculum will be determined exclusively by our Torah leaders."
In the Likud
In other political news, Likud MK Michael Eitan is trying to bring a semblance of peace and unity to the party that suddenly finds itself in the opposition. The party's #2 man, former Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, delivered a stinging attack on party leader Binyamin Netanyahu yesterday, accusing Netanyahu of having ruined the party and writing books instead of rebuilding it. Shalom demands immediate primaries to choose a new leader.
MK Eitan proposed a compromise, saying he would be willing to serve as temporary party chairman for several months and work to rebuild the party until new primaries can be held. Eitan said that in such a case, he would promise not to run for the permanent position of Party Chairman.