Over 2,000 Labor Central Committee members voted yesterday for seven Cabinet ministers, including two without portfolio, and two deputy-ministers. The positions are to be filled in the framework of the national unity government that is likely to be established between the Likud and Labor, possibly next week.
In the first two places were MKs Ophir Paz, 43, who is now serving his third term in the Knesset, and Yitzchak Herzog, 44, a first-time Knesset Member. Herzog is the son of former President Chaim Herzog and grandson of the late Chief Rabbi Yitzchak Isaac Herzog.
In third place was former Defense Minister Binyamin (Fuad) Ben-Eliezer, followed by Dalia Itzik and Shalom Simchon. Matan Vilnai, who sees himself as a leading candidate for party leader, finished sixth, followed by Chaim Ramon. Both Vilnai and Ramon will serve in the Cabinet, but will not have their choice of ministerial portfolios.
Labor's deputy-ministers are to be Orit Noked and Eli Ben-Menachem, as well as Rabbi Michael Melchior, whose position was guaranteed in the framework of the pre-election agreement between Labor and the left-wing religious Meimad party.
Party Chairman Shimon Peres did not run in the election, as his place as Deputy Prime Minister was guaranteed. The only Labor MK who did not run for either a ministerial or deputy-ministerial post was Eitan Cabel.
The victorious showings of Paz and Herzog left behind such old-timers as Amram Mitzna, Avraham Shochat and Ephraim Sneh.
Though Paz has said he has not yet decided for certain, it appears likely that he will take on the Interior Ministry. If so, Herzog will take Housing, Ben-Eliezer is headed for National Infrastructures, and Itzik will be Environment Minister. Simchon, Labor's farm sector representative, has served in the past as Agriculture Minister – a position now held by the Likud's Yisrael Katz.
In the first two places were MKs Ophir Paz, 43, who is now serving his third term in the Knesset, and Yitzchak Herzog, 44, a first-time Knesset Member. Herzog is the son of former President Chaim Herzog and grandson of the late Chief Rabbi Yitzchak Isaac Herzog.
In third place was former Defense Minister Binyamin (Fuad) Ben-Eliezer, followed by Dalia Itzik and Shalom Simchon. Matan Vilnai, who sees himself as a leading candidate for party leader, finished sixth, followed by Chaim Ramon. Both Vilnai and Ramon will serve in the Cabinet, but will not have their choice of ministerial portfolios.
Labor's deputy-ministers are to be Orit Noked and Eli Ben-Menachem, as well as Rabbi Michael Melchior, whose position was guaranteed in the framework of the pre-election agreement between Labor and the left-wing religious Meimad party.
Party Chairman Shimon Peres did not run in the election, as his place as Deputy Prime Minister was guaranteed. The only Labor MK who did not run for either a ministerial or deputy-ministerial post was Eitan Cabel.
The victorious showings of Paz and Herzog left behind such old-timers as Amram Mitzna, Avraham Shochat and Ephraim Sneh.
Though Paz has said he has not yet decided for certain, it appears likely that he will take on the Interior Ministry. If so, Herzog will take Housing, Ben-Eliezer is headed for National Infrastructures, and Itzik will be Environment Minister. Simchon, Labor's farm sector representative, has served in the past as Agriculture Minister – a position now held by the Likud's Yisrael Katz.