MK Zevulun Orlev (National Religious Party) told Arutz-7 today, in answer to a question, that yes, he would like to be a government minister. Orlev, who will be beginning his second Knesset term next week, said, "We [the NRP] will be demanding two ministerial portfolios, including Education. I assume that Sharon will form a narrow right-wing government of 61 or 62 MKs, in which the NRP will play a central role, and so I think that the Likud could be generous and give us two portfolios... The Education Ministry is the one portfolio where the NRP's unique contribution can be expressed - because it involves content, through which the NRP can express its religious-Zionist philosophy. This is why the NRP has always asked for this ministry, and the Likud always gave it to us..."
"Except for this past government," interjected Arutz-7's Haggai Segal, and asked, "If the Likud only wants to give you one portfolio, will you make a bid for it against party leader Effie Eitam?" Orlev said that it's still early, but that he would expect Eitam himself "to offer me that opportunity, since I would be the natural choice [Orlev served as head of the Knesset Education Committee in the last Knesset]... If for instance we are offered the Public Security Ministry, then I would be the first to call for Effie Eitam's appointment to that job." Orlev rejected the claim that it would be a form of "undermining" and "disunity" in the party for him to run against Eitam for the party's only Cabinet post.
"Except for this past government," interjected Arutz-7's Haggai Segal, and asked, "If the Likud only wants to give you one portfolio, will you make a bid for it against party leader Effie Eitam?" Orlev said that it's still early, but that he would expect Eitam himself "to offer me that opportunity, since I would be the natural choice [Orlev served as head of the Knesset Education Committee in the last Knesset]... If for instance we are offered the Public Security Ministry, then I would be the first to call for Effie Eitam's appointment to that job." Orlev rejected the claim that it would be a form of "undermining" and "disunity" in the party for him to run against Eitam for the party's only Cabinet post.