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| By Israel Insider staff September 16, 2007 |
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Ami Ayalon, who lost to Ehud Barak in the race to be Labor Party Chairman last June, has been appointed Minister Without Portfolio in PM Ehud Olmert's government, even though he himself had railed in the past against such an appointments as "immoral" and wasteful.
The government approved the appointment Sunday, bringing the number of Cabinet ministers to 26. Ayalon will also serve on the government's mini-security cabinet, replacing another Labor member. Amir Peretz, the previous party chair and the former defense minister defeated by Barak is nowhere to be found in the Olmert government.
Ayalon has, in the past, scorned the idea of a minister without portfolio. "This position is unnecessary," he told Ynet last year. "It would be immoral for a party that waves the banner of public integrity to take a minister without portfolio position. He has no ministerial responsibility, and works one day a week; what does he do the rest of the week? He gets a Volvo and aides. It's not ethical, and to make this clear, I, Ami Ayalon, am not a minister without portfolio."
That was then. Now he is. Ayalon is no stranger to accusations of waffling and zizagging on matters of principles and practice. In the past he responded to criticism of his inconsistencies by saying: "It's the circumstances that zig-zag, not me."
He originally objected vehemently to Labor remaining in the Olmert government, and called for Olmert's resignation in light of the failures of the Second Lebanon War. But now Ayalon says he wishes to "be a partner to decisions during these times of security tensions and opportunities for peace."
An Ayalon supporter said last week that Ayalon would be a "minister of microphones... He'll get interviewed a lot and build himself up politically."
Two senior party colleagues, ex-Minister Ophir Pines and Labor Director-General MK Eitan Cabel, criticized Ayalon's decision. Pines, speaking on Army, said it was a "grave error," in conflict with the party's "agreed-upon direction out of the government," and that it strengthens Olmert. Cabel said that Labor should be taking active steps to quit the government, not joining it.
Ayalon formerly commanded the Israeli navy, and later the Shabak (General Security Service.) Now he will be commanding a Volvo and quite a few microphones.
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