The Labor party\'s Central Committe might not choose its government ministers until early next week, and not this Thursday as was originally planned. The elections will be held in the following manner: Potential candidates who are interested in either the Foreign Affairs, Defense, or Agriculture portfolios will specify which one of the three they wish to run for, and the three elections will be held simultaneously. Shimon Peres is expected to be the only candidate for Foreign Affairs - although Avraham Burg has also expressed interest - while for Defense, Matan Vilnai, Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, and Ephraim Sneh will likely run. The losers in these elections, plus other candidates, will then have a run-off election; the one who scores highest will have his choice of the remaining portfolios, then the next-highest will choose, etc., until all six of the ministries promised to Labor by the Likud - plus two ministers-without-portfolios - have been filled.

The above system may, however, not be implemented. The party\'s government ministers - who were not happy with the party\'s decision last night - are convening this morning, and are entertaining the possibility that the system may not be legal according to party rules.