Shamir Takes Over, Vows to Repel All Terrorist Attacks
Yitzhak Shamir became Israel’s ninth prime minister Friday, trading jobs with Shimon Peres under terms of the “national unity” coalition agreement between their rival rightist and centrist parties.
Shamir, 71, vowed to “repel every terror attack” against his country, which he has served as guerrilla fighter, spy and politician since before independence in 1948.
The leader of the conservative Likud Bloc was formally named prime minister by President Chaim Herzog and will be sworn in Monday by Parliament. Peres, who heads the Labor Alignment and led the coalition government through its first two years, assumes Shamir’s former post as foreign minister.
“There must be no letup” in Israel’s fight against terrorism, Shamir told reporters. “The danger hasn’t passed.” Shamir’s appointment was delayed for three days by squabbling between Likud and Labor over political appointments, but a compromise reached Thursday allowed the transfer of power to be made.
Former Justice Minister Yitzhak Modai of the Likud will be a minister without portfolio in exchange for Shamir’s promise that a candidate chosen by Peres will become ambassador to the United States.
The coalition government was formed because neither party won enough votes in the 1984 elections to govern alone.
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