The Cabinet met in special session today to confirm Premier Menachem Begin’s choice of Yoram Aridor to be Finance Minister, replacing Yigal Hurwitz who resigned Jan. II. Aridor, chairman of the Herut Executive, was recently named by Begin to be Minister of Communications, a portfolio relinquished by Energy Minister Yitzhak Modai. He is expected to retain that post.
Aridor’s confirmation was somewhat of a surprise inasmuch as Likud’s Liberal Party wing was still insisting yesterday that one of its men be named to head the Treasury. Begin, in fact, had acceded to the Liberals’ demands despite protests from Herut ministers. But the Liberals apparently could not agree among themselves on a nominee. Both Modai and Minister of Commerce and Industry Gideon Patt wanted the job and an internal fight developed between them.
The Liberals informed Begin this morning that they were prepared to forego the right to name the new Finance Minister and to back Aridor whose selection was still being pressed by Herut. They reportedly received assurances from Begin that they would be consulted on all major decisions by the Finance Ministry. Aridor, a lawyer in his middle forties, is regarded as very close to Begin.
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