Despite Sha'ul Mofaz's recent about-face on the matter, Prime Minister Olmert continues to have a Cabinet majority for his watered-down inquiry proposal - though Shas is reconsidering its stance. Olmert is considering Ehud Barak as Defense Minister.
Eight of the nine Kadima party ministers still overwhelmingly support Olmert, while within Labor, four (out of seven) Cabinet ministers oppose Olmert's stance: Amir Peretz, Yuli Tamir, Ophir Pines, and Eitan Cabel.
The five ministers of the Shas Party have stood by Olmert on this issue, but this could change; they will meet with Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef and then announce their final decision.
The two Pensioners Party ministers appear likely to go along with Olmert, at this stage.
It is possible that Olmert will bring the proposal for a Cabinet vote tomorrow (Tuesday). He must still, however, find two more members for the committee he wishes to appoint, as the Supreme Court disqualified two of those he originally nominated because of possible "conflict of interest." The nominations of three others - Nachum Admoni, Yechezkel Dror, and Prof. Ruth Gavizon - have been approved.
Meanwhile, Olmert has been meeting with Kadima members in an attempt to find an agreed-upon candidate to replace Defense Minister Amir Peretz (Labor), should the political need arise. Peretz recently came out against Olmert on the inquiry issue, and Labor is likely to leave the coalition during the upcoming national budget struggle.
Alternatively, Labor may remain in the coalition, while Peretz would be replaced because of his inexperience in military matters and Israel's poor showing in the recent war. One of the names being mentioned as Israel's next Defense Minister is former Prime Minister and Defense Minister Ehud Barak.
MK Marina Solodkin (Kadima) has been summoned to meet with Olmert twice in the past week. Support for Olmert in the Russian sector stands at "zero," she told Army Radio today, and the appointment of Barak to the Defense Ministry, she said, would not help matters. Solodkin was miffed at Olmert's refusal to appoint her to a Cabinet post, and says that the Russian immigrant sector that she represents continues to be furious at him for the "broken promise."
Although a recent poll showed that 70% of the public feels that Peretz should be replaced, Peretz says he will remain Defense Minister for as long as Labor remains in the government.
A long-time political foe of Barak, Peretz poured cold water on Barak's appointment last week by practically blaming him outright for the rise of Hizbullah. He said that if Israel had reacted more sharply to the kidnapping of the three soldiers by Hizbullah in October 2000 - when Barak was the Prime Minister - Hizbullah never would have dared to initiate the recent war.
Eight of the nine Kadima party ministers still overwhelmingly support Olmert, while within Labor, four (out of seven) Cabinet ministers oppose Olmert's stance: Amir Peretz, Yuli Tamir, Ophir Pines, and Eitan Cabel.
The five ministers of the Shas Party have stood by Olmert on this issue, but this could change; they will meet with Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef and then announce their final decision.
The two Pensioners Party ministers appear likely to go along with Olmert, at this stage.
It is possible that Olmert will bring the proposal for a Cabinet vote tomorrow (Tuesday). He must still, however, find two more members for the committee he wishes to appoint, as the Supreme Court disqualified two of those he originally nominated because of possible "conflict of interest." The nominations of three others - Nachum Admoni, Yechezkel Dror, and Prof. Ruth Gavizon - have been approved.
Meanwhile, Olmert has been meeting with Kadima members in an attempt to find an agreed-upon candidate to replace Defense Minister Amir Peretz (Labor), should the political need arise. Peretz recently came out against Olmert on the inquiry issue, and Labor is likely to leave the coalition during the upcoming national budget struggle.
Alternatively, Labor may remain in the coalition, while Peretz would be replaced because of his inexperience in military matters and Israel's poor showing in the recent war. One of the names being mentioned as Israel's next Defense Minister is former Prime Minister and Defense Minister Ehud Barak.
MK Marina Solodkin (Kadima) has been summoned to meet with Olmert twice in the past week. Support for Olmert in the Russian sector stands at "zero," she told Army Radio today, and the appointment of Barak to the Defense Ministry, she said, would not help matters. Solodkin was miffed at Olmert's refusal to appoint her to a Cabinet post, and says that the Russian immigrant sector that she represents continues to be furious at him for the "broken promise."
Although a recent poll showed that 70% of the public feels that Peretz should be replaced, Peretz says he will remain Defense Minister for as long as Labor remains in the government.
A long-time political foe of Barak, Peretz poured cold water on Barak's appointment last week by practically blaming him outright for the rise of Hizbullah. He said that if Israel had reacted more sharply to the kidnapping of the three soldiers by Hizbullah in October 2000 - when Barak was the Prime Minister - Hizbullah never would have dared to initiate the recent war.