Sharon mulls offering Netanyahu finance portfolio

Globes ^ | 6 February 2003 | Stella Korin-Lieber and Yoav Yitzhak

[anotherview]

Sharon mulls offering Netanyahu finance portfolio

Benjamin Netanyahu will probably reject the offer, claiming the job cannot be carried out without the prime minister’s support.

Stella Korin-Lieber and Yoav Yitzhak 6 Feb 03 16:03

Sources inform “Globes” that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is considering appointing Minister of Foreign Affairs Benjamin Netanyahu as Minister of Finance. Netanyahu has reportedly rejected the idea in talks with his aides.

Netanyahu said, “It’s illogical for me to accept the post, since I’d clearly be doomed to failure.” He told his aides that the job of minister of finance in general, and in Israel’s current situation in particular, cannot be carried out without the full backing of the prime minister and his determination to implement necessary economic measures and not surrender to various pressure groups.

As he has stated in the past and reiterated since the Likud’s election victory, Netanyahu believes that a deep budget cut is the wrong solution for a shrinking economy. He thinks one of the many recovery measures should be heavy investment, especially in infrastructures, which would create new jobs, reduce unemployment and restore stability.

Netanyahu says that most these investments should be from the private sector. However, due to the slump, uncertainty and investors’ fears, the government should provide incentives and support the investment from state funds.

Netanyahu told his aides that during Silvan Shalom’s term as minister of finance, Sharon frequently succumbed to political pressure groups, and so-called “social” groups, thereby sabotaging Ministry of Finance plans. These actions were taken without any discussions about their propriety.

Netanyahu said economic policy could not be managed in this way, especially during a crisis. Therefore, under these circumstances, he told his aides, “I will not accept a job whose pitfalls are known in advance.”

Netanyahu, who has a degree in business from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), served as acting minister of finance during his final few months as prime minister. Before embarking on his political career, and after losing the 1999 elections, Netanyahu worked in business.

Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on February 6, 2003

[yonif]

Netanyahu should be Foreign Minister.

[anotherview]

I agree, absolutely. No Israeli politician is more eloquent, either in English or in Hebrew, when explaining Israel's positions and problems. Unfortunately, the Prime Minister may have to offer the foreign portfolio to either Labor or Shinui to bring them into the coalition.

I just had a horrible thought. Imagine Tommy Lapid as Foreign Minister. That would be a disaster.

[ChicagoRepublican]

How about the Foreign Ministry Portfolio? Netanyahu would be lost as Finance Minister. His politics and views are too conservative for the economically socialist elements of Labor and Likud to handle. He also would have to fight entrenched organizations such as the Histadrut. On the other hand being foreign minister is perfect for Netanyahu. He's a great orator, knows a lot of foreign leaders, is telegenic and wouldn't actually have to face the tasks of making important decisions.

[anotherview]

Again, Prime Minister Sharon may have to give the Foreign Minster's portfolio to another party to bring them into the coalition. That's the sad reality of coalition politics. The best person doesn't always get the job.

Likud is hardly socialist. Did you read the post the other day about the goverment selling off El Al?

[Tacis]

Give Ben control over all that money, especially all those "black" American dollars? What, is Sharon crazy?