Peres and Shamir Settle Dispute That Blocked Job Swap
Caretaker Prime Minister Shimon Peres and Foreign Minister Yitzhak Shamir today resolved a dispute that had blocked their planned job swap, Shamir’s top political aide said.
The aide, Yossi Ahimeir, told reporters that a 70-minute meeting between the two men “had a positive end; most matters are settled.”
Israeli radio stations said Shamir probably will not be sworn in as prime minister until Monday.
Under the compromise reached by Peres and Shamir, former Justice Minister Yitzhak Modai will be made a minister without portfolio in the new 25-member Cabinet, while Shamir promised to approve a Peres-designated candidate as ambassador to Washington. Peres reportedly wants to name his aide, Yossi Beilin, to the post.
Peres fired Modai as justice minister earlier this year because he had insulted the prime minister’s policies.
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