Israeli tax payers will pay NIS 12 million for the political deal planned by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Hebrew daily "Yediot Ahronot" reports that, behind the scenes, Netanyahu is meddling to split Kadima and is offering new portfolios to some Kadima MKs, which will cost the state NIS 12 million.
Last week, Kadima chairman MK Shaul Mofaz led the party out of the coalition, just 70 days after joining it, following the failure to reach agreement with the Likud on draftiing haredim (ultra-orthodox Jews) and Arabs into the IDF.
"Yediot Ahronot" says that MK Jacob Edery has been offered the position of minister without portfolio, instead of Mofaz. MK Avraham Duan has been offered the post of deputy minister of social services, MK Arie Bibi has been offered the post of deputy minister of public security, MK Zeev Bielski has been offered the post of minister without portfolio, instead of MK Yossi Peled (Likud), and MK Yulia Shamalov Berkovich has been offered the post of deputy minister of communications.
Under this plan, seven Kadima MKs, plus Tzahi Hanegbi, who is expected to be appointed minister for home front defense, will quit the party. Intensive efforts are being made to entice other Kadima MKs, such as Dalia Itzik, Nino Abesadze, and Rachel Adatto. By law, such a split is permitted only with the support of four members of a Knesset faction.
A ministerial bureau costs the state NIS 8 million a year, and a deputy minister's bureau costs the state NIS 4 million a year.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on July 23, 2012
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