Netanyahu Works Out New Post for Hard-Liner Sharon

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has created a powerful new Cabinet post for Ariel Sharon, the combative ex-general and champion of Jewish settlers in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Israel Radio said today.

Sharon accepted the position, which will put him in charge of what was previously called the Energy and Infrastructure Ministry as well as the railroad, water and sewage sectors, the radio said.

In addition, Sharon will be responsible for development in the southern Negev and northern Galilee, home construction outside cities and bypass roads around Palestinian cities for Jewish settlers in the West Bank, the radio said.

The new portfolio, called the Infrastructure Ministry, took two weeks to patch together because to form it required other ministers to cede important areas of authority.

It was put together in four hours of negotiations initiated by Netanyahu after Foreign Minister David Levy threatened Wednesday to bolt the government if a Cabinet job was not created for Sharon by Tuesday.

The creation of the newly formed post ended a clash that started after Netanyahu refused to give the hard-line Likud leader a key post.

The portfolio must be approved by the Cabinet and Knesset, or parliament, before Sharon actually enters office.

As defense minister in 1982, Sharon led Israel’s invasion of Lebanon. However, he was forced to resign in 1983 when an Israeli inquiry blamed him for failing to prevent the slaughter of hundreds of Palestinians by a pro-Israeli Lebanese militia.