Posted on 02/26/2003 10:23:56 AM PST by anotherview
"If Sharon tries to depose Netanyahu, it will lead to World War III in the party." So said Uzi Cohen, a leading member of the Likud Central Committee, to Arutz-7 today. A few minutes later, it was reported that Ariel Sharon had in fact decided to replace Foreign Minister Binyamin Netanyahu with Silvan Shalom. Netanyahu, after rejecting Sharon's offer to name him Finance Minister in place of Shalom, apparently changed his mind a few hours later and was considering accepting the post. But let's start at the beginning:
Once the Likud completed its negotiations with the other parties last night (see next article), its internal difficulties began. The main issue was that Prime Minister Sharon had promised Ehud Olmert the Finance Ministry, but the incumbent - Silvan Shalom - refused to leave. Sharon offered to create a revved-up version of an Industry and Trade portfolio for Shalom, but the latter said no. Sharon then wanted to offer Shalom the Education Ministry, but Limor Livnat was not happy about giving it up, and neither was Shalom keen on taking it.
Finally, in desperation - some say it was cleverly thought out all along - Sharon offered the Finance Ministry post to Foreign Minister Netanyahu, apparently realizing and possibly hoping that he would turn it down. This in fact happened, and Sharon then felt free to offer the post of Foreign Minister to Silvan Shalom, who accepted immediately. Netanyahu, a former Prime Minister, thus appeared to be the victim of a humiliating firing, and seemed headed for internal opposition within the Likud. Later in the afternoon, however, Netanyahu called in his advisors, including a lawyer to help him draw up an appropriate response, and speculation is rife that he will in fact take the Finance Ministry after all. A final announcement is expected this evening. If he takes it, Ehud Olmert will apparently receive the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
After Netanyahu's original rejection of Finance, Sharon hurried to grant Uzi Landau's Public Security portfolio to Tzachi HaNegbi, promising that Landau would "serve the government in another capacity." Gideon Ezra was offered the post of Minister without Portfolio, responsible for coordinating government and Knesset relations, and the Agriculture Ministry will be filled by MK Yisrael Katz. Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz and Education Minister Livnat will remain in their positions, and the Minister of Health is still unknown.
Shalom's supporters had said that if he were to be thrown out of Finance, he would not join the government at all and would lead the internal Likud opposition to Sharon. Netanyahu, too, seemed poised to take over that position. Some 13 of the Likud's original 38 MKs, including new ones, say that Sharon waged the coalition negotiations poorly, and raised a demand that the key Interior Ministry not be given to the Shinui Party.
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