jerusalem (jta) | Ehud Olmert has big plans for Israel. And he is about to form a big government.
The prime minister entered what appeared to be a final week of coalition talks this week, with a deal all but clinched between his Kadima Party and Labor.
With at least three other factions also set to come aboard, Olmert is looking at a mammoth Cabinet of 27 ministers.
Such a top-heavy government is a price he believes he has to pay if he wants to push through further Israeli withdrawals from the West Bank.
Labor was promised five ministries — defense, education, agriculture, infrastructure and tourism — as well as two ministries without portfolio.
As the nominations became clear, there were disappointed candidates on both sides of the talks.
Former Shin Bet chief Ami Ayalon and veteran economist Avishay Braverman, who were denied portfolios, said in interviews that by joining Labor, they had helped Peretz in the polls.
Uriel Reichman tendered his resignation from Kadima, saying he had only entered politics on the understanding he would be education minister.
Also miffed was Meir Sheetrit, a former finance minister who looks likely to lose out on a new stint in the post to Avraham Hirschson.
Mofaz was more reticent. According to media reports, Olmert may tailor a new trade-related portfolio for the ex-defense minister in order to keep him in the Cabinet.
That left only Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni keeping her position, while Shimon Peres was promised the Regional Cooperation Ministry he ran under the Barak government.
What does that leave for the other prospective coalition partners?
Avigdor Lieberman, head of the hawkish, pro-immigrant Yisrael Beiteinu, looks likely to win the Internal Security Ministry, though objections by Israel’s attorney general threaten this. Lieberman has vowed to crack down on crime in Israel. He has been more circumspect on Olmert’s West Bank plans, saying unilateral withdrawals will only embolden Palestinian terror.
Lieberman will also gain the Immigrant Absorption Ministry.
Shas, the religious party appealing mainly to Sephardi Jews, is expected to receive the welfare and housing portfolios. It is also expected to appoint a minister without portfolio who will have authority over religious matters — perhaps an indirect effort to rebuild the Religious Affairs Ministry, dismantled by the secular Shinui Party in the last government.
The last clutch of Cabinet posts will go to the Pensioners Party, which took a surprising seven seats in the elections. The party’s leader, former spymaster Rafi Eitan, will become the first Israeli Pensioners minister, having had the post custom-made. One of his colleagues is expected to take over the Health Ministry.