The hareidi-religious Knesset faction United Torah Judaism (UTJ) is reportedly nearing a coalition deal with Likud. Likud already has a Knesset majority, but has sought UTJ's participation in order to create a more stable coalition. Prime Minister-designate Binyamin Netanyahu met with UTJ's Yaakov Litzman Monday night in an effort to get the party to join the coalition
The party's spiritual leader, Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, has approved of the latest compromise regarding conversion to Judaism, sources within UTJ said. The issue of conversion was the main sticking point in previous talks between Likud and UTJ. Likud agreed with Yisrael Beiteinu that conversions would once again be performed by city rabbis, an arrangement that UTJ strongly opposed.
No final deal has been hammered out, UTJ sources said, but an agreement seems to be near.
If the party does join the government, it could receive the coveted position of Finance Committee Chairman as well as a senior spot in the Health Ministry. Litzman served as Chairman of the Finance Committee in the last three Knessets when the party was a member of the government.
Bibi Hands Out Ministries
While talks continued, Netanyahu continued to fill his government's positions, handing out several senior slots to members of his own party, Likud.
Likud Knesset faction chairman Gideon Sa'ar was named Education Minister and will sit in the security cabinet. Yisrael Katz was named Transportation Minister.
MK Limor Livnat got the Culture and Sports Portfolio, previously a part of the Ministry of Science, Culture and Sports. Ayoub Kara was appointed as Deputy Minister for Development of the Negev and the Galilee, Moshe Kachlon got the Communications Ministry, and Gilad Erdan was selected as Minister of Environmental Protection.
Yuli Edelstein, Michael Eitan and Yossi Peled have been appointed as ministers without portfolios. Edelstein has been charged with supervising the Israel Broadcasting Authority as well.
The growing cabinet has already angered some members of the opposition, who have accused Netanyahu of creating unnecessary ministries to appease coalition members, thereby wasting state funds. MK Yohanan Plesner of Kadima has submitted a proposal that would limit the number of ministers in each government to 18.
Similar proposals were submitted in the past by senior Likud members Saar and Reuven Rivlin, Plesner said.