"If Sharon tries to depose Netanyahu, this will cause World War III in the party." So said Uzi Cohen, a leading member of the Likud Central Committee to Arutz-7 today. A few minutes later, it was reported that Sharon had in fact decided to replace Netanyahu in the Foreign Ministry with Silvan Shalom.
Now that the Likud has completed its negotiations with the other parties, its internal difficulties begin. Prime Minister Sharon promised Ehud Olmert the Finance Ministry, but the incumbent - Silvan Shalom - refused to leave. A possible solution was for Shalom to replace Limor Livnat as Education Minister; Livnat was not enthusiastic, to say the least. Sharon then offered the post to Binyamin Netanyahu - possibly hoping that he would turn it down, thus leading to his departure from the government. Netanyahu in fact said no, and speculation was rife that Sharon would try to leave him off the ministerial roster altogether.
Uzi Cohen told Arutz-7, before the news of Shalom-replacing-Netanyahu was learned, that the only way to solve the current problem is to restore the Interior Ministry to the Likud and give it to Olmert, thus that Shalom and Netanyahu would remain in their positions. At present, Avraham Poraz of Shinui has been promised the Interior Ministry.
Shalom's supporters had said that if he is thrown out of Finance, he would not join the government at all, and would lead the internal Likud opposition to Sharon that has already started gaining strength. Some 13 of the Likud's original 38 MKs, including new ones, say that Sharon waged the coalition negotiations poorly, and demand that the Interior Ministry not be given to Shinui.
Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz will remain in his position. Other portfolios in question are Public Security, Health, and Agriculture. The Likud Knesset faction will convene today.
Now that the Likud has completed its negotiations with the other parties, its internal difficulties begin. Prime Minister Sharon promised Ehud Olmert the Finance Ministry, but the incumbent - Silvan Shalom - refused to leave. A possible solution was for Shalom to replace Limor Livnat as Education Minister; Livnat was not enthusiastic, to say the least. Sharon then offered the post to Binyamin Netanyahu - possibly hoping that he would turn it down, thus leading to his departure from the government. Netanyahu in fact said no, and speculation was rife that Sharon would try to leave him off the ministerial roster altogether.
Uzi Cohen told Arutz-7, before the news of Shalom-replacing-Netanyahu was learned, that the only way to solve the current problem is to restore the Interior Ministry to the Likud and give it to Olmert, thus that Shalom and Netanyahu would remain in their positions. At present, Avraham Poraz of Shinui has been promised the Interior Ministry.
Shalom's supporters had said that if he is thrown out of Finance, he would not join the government at all, and would lead the internal Likud opposition to Sharon that has already started gaining strength. Some 13 of the Likud's original 38 MKs, including new ones, say that Sharon waged the coalition negotiations poorly, and demand that the Interior Ministry not be given to Shinui.
Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz will remain in his position. Other portfolios in question are Public Security, Health, and Agriculture. The Likud Knesset faction will convene today.