Somewhat out-shadowed by the furor in the Labor party, the coalition negotiations with the right-wing parties begin in earnest today. The Shas and Yisrael B\'Aliyah parties both demand the Interior Ministry, while the National Religious Party demands Education and Communications; the three have said that they will not settle for less.
In addition, all the religious parties have banded together against granting the Chairmanship of the Knesset Law Committee to a Labor member, even for only half the government\'s term. The post was originally promised to MK Benny Elon of National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu, but the Likud apparently gave in to a Labor demand to renege on it. In another interesting development, the NRP now backs MK Tzvi Hendel - who left the NRP for the National Union two years ago - for Deputy Defense Minister for Settlement Affairs.
In addition, all the religious parties have banded together against granting the Chairmanship of the Knesset Law Committee to a Labor member, even for only half the government\'s term. The post was originally promised to MK Benny Elon of National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu, but the Likud apparently gave in to a Labor demand to renege on it. In another interesting development, the NRP now backs MK Tzvi Hendel - who left the NRP for the National Union two years ago - for Deputy Defense Minister for Settlement Affairs.