Peretz willing to move to finance ministry

Defense Minister Amir Peretz said he would agree to shift offices, taking over the Finance Ministry instead, Channel 2 reported Sunday. Channel 2 said Peretz would agree to make the switch after Labor Party primary elections in May. Peretz is facing stiff challenges from former Prime Minister Ehud Barak and others. Peretz has lost most of his support in the wake of the Second Lebanon War. He was criticized for taking the defense portfolio in the first place after running his Labor Party campaign on social issues.