The Knesset first approved the appointment of Kadima MK Dalia Itzik, a former Minister of Communications on behalf of the Labor Party, as Speaker of the Knesset. Itzik is the first woman to serve in this position. The legislature then conducted a debate on the proposed government, but is expected to approve Olmert's government later this evening. The government will have a majority comprising the MKs of Kadima/Pensioners, Labor, and Shas - a total of 67.
However, at least two Kadima MKs are threatening not to vote for the government, in protest at not having been named to ministerial or senior posts. Marina Solodkin said this morning, "The public that I represent [new Russian immigrants] has not stopped calling me and demanding that I vote against the new government. I received so many calls that I had to detach the phone." She said that she has not yet decided whether to abstain or simply not show up for the vote, "but one thing is clear: I will not vote in favor of the government."
At the same time, Kadima MK Majli Wahabe said, "It cannot be that Kadima does not give representation to the non-Jewish sector... Olmert is abusing an entire sector. We're good at bringing votes but not good enough to be part of the system?"
The government will have 25 ministers: 2 from the Pensioners, 4 of Shas, 7 from Labor, and 12 from Kadima.
Two parties, United Torah Judaism and Yisrael Beiteinu, are still considering joining the coalition. UTJ MK Moshe Gafni said, "If the problems are straightened out, we will join the coalition, and if not, we will remain in the opposition." The unresolved issues involve the child allowance payments for large families, civil marriage, and religious services. UTJ claims that Shas, the other hareidi-religious party, did not succeed in obtaining suitable solutions for these problems.
However, at least two Kadima MKs are threatening not to vote for the government, in protest at not having been named to ministerial or senior posts. Marina Solodkin said this morning, "The public that I represent [new Russian immigrants] has not stopped calling me and demanding that I vote against the new government. I received so many calls that I had to detach the phone." She said that she has not yet decided whether to abstain or simply not show up for the vote, "but one thing is clear: I will not vote in favor of the government."
At the same time, Kadima MK Majli Wahabe said, "It cannot be that Kadima does not give representation to the non-Jewish sector... Olmert is abusing an entire sector. We're good at bringing votes but not good enough to be part of the system?"
The government will have 25 ministers: 2 from the Pensioners, 4 of Shas, 7 from Labor, and 12 from Kadima.
Two parties, United Torah Judaism and Yisrael Beiteinu, are still considering joining the coalition. UTJ MK Moshe Gafni said, "If the problems are straightened out, we will join the coalition, and if not, we will remain in the opposition." The unresolved issues involve the child allowance payments for large families, civil marriage, and religious services. UTJ claims that Shas, the other hareidi-religious party, did not succeed in obtaining suitable solutions for these problems.