Deal with Labor throws wrench in Likud coalition talks with National Union

Negotiating teams from Likud and National Union are to meet again today to discuss the terms under which National Union would join the government and which ministry Likud would offer it. The Agriculture Ministry, which had originally been suggested, now seems to be going to Labor.

National Union insists that its portfolio include responsibility for community infrastructure development, to enable it to promote the development of Israeli communities in the West Bank, the Galilee and the Negev. In addition, it has asked for a deputy minister, to which Likud has agreed.

In reaction to the Labor Party's decision to join the government, the National Union's MK Uri Ariel said, "the public voted for the right wing and wanted a right-wing government. The Labor Party is liable to be a foreign body in the rightist government that [Likud chairman Benjamin] Netanyahu is forming."

But other National Union sources expressed hope that as defense minister in the new government, Labor chairman Ehud Barak would relate to West Bank settlement differently than he did in the current government and lift the nearly total freeze on building in many settlements.

Habayit Hayehudi, meanwhile, will apparently receive the science, sport and culture portfolio, with party chairman Daniel Hershkowitz serving as the minister. Sources in the party generally welcomed Labor's presence in the new government, but they, too, expressed hope that the new government's policies on West Bank settlements would be relaxed.

Sources in both Habayit Hayehudi and National Union said the coalition agreement should provide additional funding for religious Zionist education.

Some Likud activists are also vigorously opposed to Labor joining the government and are pressing for a meeting of the Likud Central Committee to vote on the deal.

They say the agreement with Labor conflicts with both a 2002 central committee decision opposing a Palestinian state in the West Bank and the Likud constitution.