Following the resolution of the NRP's ministerial crisis - Rabbi Yitzchak Levy withdrew his intention to challenge Zevulun Orlev last night - the party's two government ministers will be sworn in on Monday. Party leader Effie Eitam will become Housing Minister - a position held by Rabbi Levy in the Barak government - and MK Zevulun Orlev will serve as Minister of Welfare. Levy will be named Deputy Minister responsible for Religious Affairs, while the Ministry of Religious Affairs is in the process of being dismantled.
Several dozen hareidi demonstrators protested outside Orlev's home last night, protesting the NRP's "abandonment" of the hareidi parties and its agreement with the secularist Shinui party.
In addition, Natan Sharansky of Yisrael B'Aliyah - the 2-MK party that joined up with the Likud after the recent elections - will swear allegiance as a government minister responsible for Jerusalem and Diaspora affairs. The agreement between his party and the Likud was deemed to be a coalition-related contract, and the delay in its presentation to the Knesset forced the postponement of Sharansky's entry into the government.
Finally, Dan Meridor of the Likud will become a Minister without Portfolio, bringing the total number of ministers, including Ariel Sharon, to 24 - 33% more than the 18 Sharon originally promised. Meridor briefly served as Justice Minister in Netanyahu's government before resigning and helping to form the now-defunct Center Party.
The Ministry of Labor and Welfare has been pared down, and will become the Ministry of Welfare. The Labor department will be transferred to the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Yitzchak Chazan, the director-general of the formerly combined ministry, told Arutz-7 that it is feared that workers' interests will be hurt by the change. He said that not only will the separation of the two departments have a negative effect, "but it will be intensified by the transfer of Labor to Industry and Trade, which basically works with employers; they will want more foreign workers, for instance... This will be a conflict of interest of tremendous proportions.."
Several dozen hareidi demonstrators protested outside Orlev's home last night, protesting the NRP's "abandonment" of the hareidi parties and its agreement with the secularist Shinui party.
In addition, Natan Sharansky of Yisrael B'Aliyah - the 2-MK party that joined up with the Likud after the recent elections - will swear allegiance as a government minister responsible for Jerusalem and Diaspora affairs. The agreement between his party and the Likud was deemed to be a coalition-related contract, and the delay in its presentation to the Knesset forced the postponement of Sharansky's entry into the government.
Finally, Dan Meridor of the Likud will become a Minister without Portfolio, bringing the total number of ministers, including Ariel Sharon, to 24 - 33% more than the 18 Sharon originally promised. Meridor briefly served as Justice Minister in Netanyahu's government before resigning and helping to form the now-defunct Center Party.
The Ministry of Labor and Welfare has been pared down, and will become the Ministry of Welfare. The Labor department will be transferred to the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Yitzchak Chazan, the director-general of the formerly combined ministry, told Arutz-7 that it is feared that workers' interests will be hurt by the change. He said that not only will the separation of the two departments have a negative effect, "but it will be intensified by the transfer of Labor to Industry and Trade, which basically works with employers; they will want more foreign workers, for instance... This will be a conflict of interest of tremendous proportions.."