The Likud and the National Religious Party signed a rough-draft agreement this morning, paving the way for the latter to enter the coalition together with the anti-hareidi Shinui party. The automatic consequence appears to be a rejection by the Labor Party, in its meeting today, of Sharon's invitation to join the government.



The NRP will receive two government ministries - Housing, and Labor and Welfare - as well as a Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Office. It is likely that these positions will be filled, respectively, by Effie Eitam, Zevulun Orlev, and Rabbi Yitzchak Levy. Rabbi Levy may vie for one of the other two positions, however. Shinui will be allocated its portfolios tomorrow; Shinui leader MK Tommy Lapid told Galei Tzahal Army Radio a short time ago that he expects to receive five ministerial portfolios if his party enters into a coalition agreement with Likud.



Shinui and the NRP agreed on Friday that the Tal Law will be replaced by another law that will more strictly regulate military exemptions for yeshiva students; that the Religious Affairs Ministry will be dismantled; and that the local Religious Councils will be transferred to the Interior Ministry.