IsraelNationalNews.com One of two things will apparently happen with the National Religious Party in the next few hours before tomorrow: Either it will receive a generous offer from Ariel Sharon to join his government, or else Rabbi Yitzchak Levy will announce his resignation as head of the party. As of now, the coalition negotiations between the Likud and the NRP have ended abruptly without agreement, leaving the NRP - one of the earliest and strongest supporters of the unity government - outside it.
Addressing the NRP Central Committee this afternoon, Rabbi Levy had strong words against the Likud for not including the party of Religious Zionism in its unity government: \"There is no doubt that if the Likud wanted us in, it would have closed a deal with us.\" He implied that he is waiting a few more hours to see if the Likud will offer the party \"something substantial\" - such as the Ministry of Justice or Education - for its consent to join the government. Rabbi Levy is currently not a Knesset Member, and he had resigned his Housing Minister position when the NRP left the Barak government last year. He lost his daughter in a terrorist car-bombing in Jerusalem four months ago. Rabbi Levy took over as NRP chairman following the death of Zevulun Hammer four years ago.
National Union MK Tzvi Hendel, formerly of the NRP, made a last-ditch effort to negotiate a deal between the Likud and the NRP today. The NRP had originally been offered the Housing Ministry and a deputy-ministry, but demanded also the position of Director-General of the Ministry of Religious Affairs. The Likud did not agree to this, and granted the position of Housing Minister to Natan Sharansky of Yisrael B\'Aliyah. This afternoon, the NRP said it would accept the Justice Ministry and two deputy ministers, but the Likud again refused. As things currently stand, therefore, the Likud-headed national unity government to be presented and voted on tomorrow will not include the NRP.
Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon submitted the signed coalition agreements to the Knesset at 4:45 PM today - a bit later than he had planned - and will, in accordance with the law, present his government to the Knesset 24 hours afterwards. Sharon will make final decisions today as to which Likud MKs will serve as government ministers. At this stage, it appears that the government will include the following parties: Likud, One Israel (Labor-Meimad), Shas, National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu, Yisrael B\'Aliyah, Am Echad, and splinters of the Center Party, representing 78 Knesset Members. United Torah Judaism will join the coalition only after the Tal Committee law - governing yeshiva students\' deferment of army service - is passed.
Addressing the NRP Central Committee this afternoon, Rabbi Levy had strong words against the Likud for not including the party of Religious Zionism in its unity government: \"There is no doubt that if the Likud wanted us in, it would have closed a deal with us.\" He implied that he is waiting a few more hours to see if the Likud will offer the party \"something substantial\" - such as the Ministry of Justice or Education - for its consent to join the government. Rabbi Levy is currently not a Knesset Member, and he had resigned his Housing Minister position when the NRP left the Barak government last year. He lost his daughter in a terrorist car-bombing in Jerusalem four months ago. Rabbi Levy took over as NRP chairman following the death of Zevulun Hammer four years ago.
National Union MK Tzvi Hendel, formerly of the NRP, made a last-ditch effort to negotiate a deal between the Likud and the NRP today. The NRP had originally been offered the Housing Ministry and a deputy-ministry, but demanded also the position of Director-General of the Ministry of Religious Affairs. The Likud did not agree to this, and granted the position of Housing Minister to Natan Sharansky of Yisrael B\'Aliyah. This afternoon, the NRP said it would accept the Justice Ministry and two deputy ministers, but the Likud again refused. As things currently stand, therefore, the Likud-headed national unity government to be presented and voted on tomorrow will not include the NRP.
Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon submitted the signed coalition agreements to the Knesset at 4:45 PM today - a bit later than he had planned - and will, in accordance with the law, present his government to the Knesset 24 hours afterwards. Sharon will make final decisions today as to which Likud MKs will serve as government ministers. At this stage, it appears that the government will include the following parties: Likud, One Israel (Labor-Meimad), Shas, National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu, Yisrael B\'Aliyah, Am Echad, and splinters of the Center Party, representing 78 Knesset Members. United Torah Judaism will join the coalition only after the Tal Committee law - governing yeshiva students\' deferment of army service - is passed.