(Updated Sunday 10:45 AM) Prime Minister Ariel Sharon convened his new-look Cabinet this morning for its weekly meeting. Absent from the gathering were the Labor party ministers whose resignations went into effect last night. Sharon was to ask the Cabinet to approve his appointment of former IDF Chief of Staff Lt. General Shaul Mofaz as his new Defense Minister, to replace Labor party head Binyamin Ben-Eliezer. The Prime Minister intends to submit the Mofaz appointment for Knesset approval tomorrow.
This afternoon a team of Sharon negotiators will meet with National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu representatives in attempt to bring the party into the government. Should National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu join, Sharon would have a narrow 62 member Knesset majority on his side. Talks are also expected later in the week between the Sharon camp and the leaders of the Gesher, Shinui, Am-Ehad, and Herut parties, in hopes of enticing them to join the coalition.
Later on today the Prime Minister is planning on meeting with former Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu for the second time in three days. During a Friday visit at the Prime Minister's Negev farm, Sharon offered his Likud party rival the position of Foreign Minister. Analysts are skeptical that Netanyahu will accept the offer.
This afternoon a team of Sharon negotiators will meet with National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu representatives in attempt to bring the party into the government. Should National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu join, Sharon would have a narrow 62 member Knesset majority on his side. Talks are also expected later in the week between the Sharon camp and the leaders of the Gesher, Shinui, Am-Ehad, and Herut parties, in hopes of enticing them to join the coalition.
Later on today the Prime Minister is planning on meeting with former Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu for the second time in three days. During a Friday visit at the Prime Minister's Negev farm, Sharon offered his Likud party rival the position of Foreign Minister. Analysts are skeptical that Netanyahu will accept the offer.