Prime Minister Ariel Sharon promised again last night that if he forms the next government, it will be a national-unity government. At the same time, however, he said that Sha'ul Mofaz will be his Defense Minister, and not ultra-left Labor Party leader Amram Mitzna. Sharon, who spoke to a gathering of Likud activists near Rishon LeTzion, again praised Mofaz's anti-terror operations, about some of which it is "still too early too talk." The Prime Minister promised that Israel will disarm the terrorist organizations, and said that no Israeli government had acted as strongly against terrorism as the current one.
Sharon also praised his opponent Binyamin Netanyahu's foreign relations activities, but has pointedly not (yet?) offered him a position in his future government. Foreign Minister Netanyahu, for his part, said today that if he forms the next government, he would ask Sharon to be his Foreign Minister. Netanyahu has said that he would not be able to serve in a government led by someone - Sharon - who favors a Palestinian state. Former Defense Minister Moshe Arens is expected to announce his endorsement of Netanyahu for Likud leader tonight.
Dan Meridor, currently serving in the government as a Minister Without Portfolio, has decided to re-join the Likud Party. He left the Likud six years ago in light of "irreconcilable differences" with then-Prime Minister Netanyahu, and later helped form the Center Party. Surprising no one by publicly endorsing Ariel Sharon for Likud leader today, Meridor said he would not run for a spot on the Likud's Knesset list. It is assumed that he will either run for Mayor of Jerusalem, in the event that the incumbent Ehud Olmert resigns to become a senior minister in the next government, or will hope to become a minister himself.
Sharon also praised his opponent Binyamin Netanyahu's foreign relations activities, but has pointedly not (yet?) offered him a position in his future government. Foreign Minister Netanyahu, for his part, said today that if he forms the next government, he would ask Sharon to be his Foreign Minister. Netanyahu has said that he would not be able to serve in a government led by someone - Sharon - who favors a Palestinian state. Former Defense Minister Moshe Arens is expected to announce his endorsement of Netanyahu for Likud leader tonight.
Dan Meridor, currently serving in the government as a Minister Without Portfolio, has decided to re-join the Likud Party. He left the Likud six years ago in light of "irreconcilable differences" with then-Prime Minister Netanyahu, and later helped form the Center Party. Surprising no one by publicly endorsing Ariel Sharon for Likud leader today, Meridor said he would not run for a spot on the Likud's Knesset list. It is assumed that he will either run for Mayor of Jerusalem, in the event that the incumbent Ehud Olmert resigns to become a senior minister in the next government, or will hope to become a minister himself.