The Cabinet today approved the entry into the government coalition of the ultra-nationalist Tehiya and a portfolio for its leader, Prof. Yuval Neeman. The Knesset is expected to endorse the move tomorrow.
Neeman, a professor of physics at Tel Aviv University, will head a newly created Ministry of Science and Development. The inclusion of Tehiya in this government will give Premier Menachem Begin a comfortable eight-seat margin in the Knesset which, according to observers, will enable the Likud to serve out its full term which expires in 1985.
Only a month ago doubts were expressed that the Begin government could survive after the defection of two Likud MKs to the Labor opposition reduced the coalition to minority status in the Knesset. That situation was reversed, however, when the Telem faction, founded by the late Moshe Dayan, voluntarily dissolved itself and its two members joined the government. With Tehiya’s three Knesset mandates, Begin will enjoy a parliamentary majority of 64-56.
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