The NRP's two government ministers will take the oath of office today: Effie Eitam will be Minister of Housing, and Zevulun Orlev will serve as Minister of Welfare. Rabbi Yitzchak Levy, who took over from the late Zevulun Hammer as leader of the party before giving way to Eitam last year, will be Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's office, responsible for Religious Affairs. The Shinui Party demands that the Ministry for Religious Affairs be closed within a year, as the coalition agreement stipulates.
Natan Sharansky will also be sworn in as Minister without Portfolio, but Prime Minister Sharon's plans to add Dan Meridor to the government as well have been put on hold. In this connection, Sharon wanted to offer former Foreign Minister David Levy the position of Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committe, but Levy turned him down.
Natan Sharansky will also be sworn in as Minister without Portfolio, but Prime Minister Sharon's plans to add Dan Meridor to the government as well have been put on hold. In this connection, Sharon wanted to offer former Foreign Minister David Levy the position of Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committe, but Levy turned him down.