Last update - 00:00 12/02/2007
Peretz: Labor will cede Tourism Ministry for welfare portfolio
By Haaretz Service
Defense Minister and Labor Party leader Amir Peretz said Monday that his party would be willing to cede the tourism portfolio in exchange for the welfare portfolio.
Peretz also said he would prefer to transfer to Yisrael Beiteinu the science, culture and sports portfolio, which until last month was held by MK Ophir Pines-Paz.
The Labor leader said he had promised Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to give up the tourism portfolio before Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman joined the coalition. Tourism Minister Isaac Herzog said in response that he had never heard of such an agreement between Peretz and Olmert.
Infrastructure Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer and Agriculture Minister Shalom Simhon suggested that Peretz attempt to convince the prime minister not to demand Labor give up the tourism portfolio.
Labor is interested in acquiring the welfare portfolio because it is suits the social agenda of the party. Still, Olmert has refused to grant Labor the welfare portfolio in exchange for science, culture and sports. Instead, the prime minister asked Labor to give up either the tourism or infrastructure portfolio.
Both Ben-Eliezer and Herzog have both refused to give up their positions, awakening tension within the party.