Talks were held between Kadima and UTJ after Prime Minister
Ehud Olmert decided to step up his efforts to bring UTJ into
the coalition.
Kadima sources revealed that last week Olmert froze the round
of portfolio appointments after expressing a desire to reach
an agreement to bring UTJ into the coalition and due to his
disappointment over negotiations with the Labor Party, which
was unable to decide which ministry it would be willing to
give up in exchange for the Welfare Ministry.
Last week two meetings were held between UTJ representatives
and senior Kadima officials. MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni met with
Government Secretary Yisrael Maimon and MK Rabbi Yaakov
Litzman met with Prime Ministerial Advisor Oved Yechezkel.
UTJ expressed doubt that the talks would bear fruit because
of the ongoing damage to chareidi education, which the Prime
Minister's Office has been unable to halt.
Sources at the Prime Minister's Office said that if UTJ joins
the coalition it would be put in charge of the Welfare
Ministry and the Knesset Finance Committee, while the new
Arab minister, Raleb Majadele, would receive the Science
Ministry.
