Coalition negotiations between the Likud and United Torah Judaism are reported to be progressing, while those with the National Religious Party appear to be still stuck. UTJ had demanded that its three deputy ministers be granted fields of authority, and it now appears that the Shas party has agreed to do what it can to enable this. Shas has reportedly agreed to allow UTJ to assume some of its important powers in the Ministries of Education and Religious Affairs. Moshe Gafni will be Deputy Education Minister, while MKs Avraham Ravitz or Meir Porush will be Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs. Still to be resolved are the questions of UTJ\'s authorities in the Housing Ministry, which is headed by Natan Sharansky of Yisrael B\'Aliyah, as well as which UTJ member will become chairman of the all-important Knesset Finance Committee.
The NRP\'s Rabbi Yitzchak Levy says that his party will not agree to the \"creation\" of a new portfolio, such as a Settlement Ministry, so that the party can join the government. \"This would be an unnecessary burden on the taxpayer,\" Rabbi Levy said.
The NRP\'s Rabbi Yitzchak Levy says that his party will not agree to the \"creation\" of a new portfolio, such as a Settlement Ministry, so that the party can join the government. \"This would be an unnecessary burden on the taxpayer,\" Rabbi Levy said.