Premier Menachem Begin has made no progress toward including Aharon Abu Hatzeira’s Tami faction in a new Likud-led coalition government. He reportedly offered Hatzeira the Ministry of Labor and Welfare portfolio and a sub-Cabinet post for Tami’s No. 2 man, former Laborite Aharon Uzan.
But Hatzeira is said to have insisted on retaining the Religious Affairs Ministry which he held in the outgoing government as a member of the National Religious Party and is demanding a full Cabinet job for Uzan. Begin, who promised the Religious Affairs Ministry to the NRP, has made it clear that the three-man Tami faction could expect no more than one portfolio in the next government. But he needs Tami’s three mandates to achieve the bare majority of 61 Knesset votes necessary to govern.
Begin is continuing his talks with the Aguda Israel. The Aguda is once again demanding an ironclad guarantee from Begin that the “Who is a Jew?” amendment to the Law of Return will be adopted by the next Knesset. Begin said last week that he could not offer such a commitment although he personally favored the amendment.
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