Litzman to decide fate of Health portfolio

UTJ head reportedly angry his faction voted to give the chairmanship of the Knesset Finance Committee to MK Moshe Gafni.

By GIL STERN STERN HOFFMAN
Published: APRIL 5, 2009 00:42
Litzman 248.88 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
Litzman 248.88
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
United Torah Judaism MK Ya'acov Litzman was expected to decide as early as late Saturday night after press time about whether to allow his colleague, MK Menahem Eliezer Moses, to keep the Health portfolio, which Moses would control as a deputy minister. The rabbis of the hassidic sects represented by the two MKs met on Thursday night and decided on a compromise whereby UTJ's Agudat Yisrael Party would not leave the coalition as Litzman had requested. Instead Moses would not take the portfolio unless Litzman gave his approval. Litzman is reportedly angry his faction voted to give the chairmanship of the Knesset Finance Committee to MK Moshe Gafni of UTJ's Degel Hatorah Party. Litzman asked the Likud whether he could trade in the Health portfolio for something he preferred. The Likud's ministers-without-portfolio had expressed interest in holding the portfolio, but no trade-off has been found to appease Litzman. Health-related unions and organizations are expected to petition the High Court of Justice to protest the possibility the portfolio would be controlled by a deputy minister instead of a minister. One possible solution is a decision expected to be made soon by Moses's rabbis to allow him to become a minister instead of a deputy minister. UTJ has traditionally not had ministers because they believe serving in the cabinet makes them responsible for decisions made against the Torah.