Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon is scheduled to present Israel\'s largest government ever this evening. As of now, it includes at least 25 definite ministers: 8 from the Likud, 8 from Labor, 5 from Shas, 2 from National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu, and one each from Am Echad and Yisrael B\'Aliyah. A minister from the Central Party may also be appointed.
The new government will be voted in following speeches by Ariel Sharon and opposition leader MK Yossi Sarid of Meretz. In a departure from tradition, and in accordance with a special request by Ariel Sharon, the new Prime Minister will be sworn in on a Bible.
Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon made some surprising appointments in distributing his own party\'s ministerial portfolios last night:
* The Minister of Public Security will be Uzi Landau, who has served twice in the past as the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
* Silvan Shalom will be Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister.
* Limor Livnat will be Education Minister, in accordance with early forecasts but contrary to expectations of the last two or three days.
* Meir Shetreet will be the Justice Minister, Ruby Rivlin will be the Communications Minister, and Tzachi HaNegbi, whose indictment was canceled yesterday by the Attorney-General, will be Environment Minister.
* Ministers without Portfolio will be Danny Naveh, who will coordinate between the government and the Knesset, and Tzippy Livni.
Comments by the Likud\'s new government ministers, hours after being informed of their appointments:
Uzi Landau, Public Security Minister-to-be: \"I feel privileged to help in the all-important post of maintaining normal security for the citizens of Israel.\"
Meir Shetreet, Justice Minister-to-be: \"I had wanted to bring about a revolution in the educational system, but I will do it in the Justice Ministry... When I become Prime Minister, I will also hold the Education portfolio.\"
Limor Livnat, Education Minister-to-be: \"I see this as a most important position, on the same level as that of Defense… I think that, as opposed to my predecessor [Meretz leader] Yossi Sarid, we must restore the Zionist, Jewish, nationalist, values to the education system - not instead of anything else, but in addition. I would like my children, who study in the public school system, to know that the Day of Love is the 15th of Av [sic] and not Valentine\'s Day, which commemorates a Christian saint. I think that there are some very basic things that must be restored - these values are the fundamental values of the People and State of Israel.\"
The new government will be voted in following speeches by Ariel Sharon and opposition leader MK Yossi Sarid of Meretz. In a departure from tradition, and in accordance with a special request by Ariel Sharon, the new Prime Minister will be sworn in on a Bible.
Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon made some surprising appointments in distributing his own party\'s ministerial portfolios last night:
* The Minister of Public Security will be Uzi Landau, who has served twice in the past as the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
* Silvan Shalom will be Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister.
* Limor Livnat will be Education Minister, in accordance with early forecasts but contrary to expectations of the last two or three days.
* Meir Shetreet will be the Justice Minister, Ruby Rivlin will be the Communications Minister, and Tzachi HaNegbi, whose indictment was canceled yesterday by the Attorney-General, will be Environment Minister.
* Ministers without Portfolio will be Danny Naveh, who will coordinate between the government and the Knesset, and Tzippy Livni.
Comments by the Likud\'s new government ministers, hours after being informed of their appointments:
Uzi Landau, Public Security Minister-to-be: \"I feel privileged to help in the all-important post of maintaining normal security for the citizens of Israel.\"
Meir Shetreet, Justice Minister-to-be: \"I had wanted to bring about a revolution in the educational system, but I will do it in the Justice Ministry... When I become Prime Minister, I will also hold the Education portfolio.\"
Limor Livnat, Education Minister-to-be: \"I see this as a most important position, on the same level as that of Defense… I think that, as opposed to my predecessor [Meretz leader] Yossi Sarid, we must restore the Zionist, Jewish, nationalist, values to the education system - not instead of anything else, but in addition. I would like my children, who study in the public school system, to know that the Day of Love is the 15th of Av [sic] and not Valentine\'s Day, which commemorates a Christian saint. I think that there are some very basic things that must be restored - these values are the fundamental values of the People and State of Israel.\"