By GIL STERN STERN HOFFMAN
Defense Minister Amir Peretz revealed on Monday that he had already told Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in October 2006 that if Labor received the social affairs portfolio, the party would give up either the science or the tourism ministry.
Speaking at the cabinet meeting, Tourism Minister Isaac Herzog said this was the first he was hearing of it, while Peretz replied that he had told all labor ministers about the deal.
The faction decided to appoint Agriculture Minister Shalom Simhon and National Infrastructure Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer to negotiate with Olmert over the next two days about the assignation of portfolios.