Zvi Lavi
Prior to the breakdown in coalition talks that stymied the formation of a government, Yossi Beilin was widely believed by One Israel sources to be the leading candidate for Minister of Finance. This assessment was based on a scenario envisaging a broad-based government comprising 24 ministers, following an amendment to the Government Basic Law. According to the same scenario, Shas and the Likud were expected to join the coalition at a later stage. This was the prevailing scenario before Shas yesterday demanded the finance portfolio as one of the conditions for joining the coalition.
Published by Israel's Business Arena June 8, 1999