Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is giving important portfolios to other parties, leaving none for the Likud.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s new coalition, consisting of the Likud, Shinui, and the National Religious Party, with the possible addition of the National Union Yisrael Beitenu, is likely to lead to the formation of a government enjoying the support of 68 Knesset members (MKs). This coalition is oriented towards the center, with an extreme right wing element. Sharon, however, cannot even count on the support of his own party.
The Likud members are storing up resentment against Sharon. They are complaining that Sharon acts as if the Likud’s success belongs to him alone. He is giving important portfolios to other parties, leaving none for the Likud, except for those already promised (Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shaul Mofaz as Minister of Defense). For the Likud, his worst sin is his assumption that support for him is guaranteed.
Several senior Likud MKs are reportedly planning to make trouble for Sharon. They want to force Sharon to submit the agreements to the Likud central committee for approval. Senior Likud MKs object to giving the Ministry of Justice portfolio to Shinui. They claim that the portfolio is too important a position; under certain circumstances, the Minister of Justice could determine the government’s fate. They therefore oppose giving this portfolio to Shinui at all, but especially to Shinui leader MK Joseph (Tomy) Lapid. Lapid is known for almost automatically supporting the Attorney General and the State Attorney’s Office.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on February 24, 2003