Knesset panel addresses issue of more ministers

An ad hoc Knesset committee is paving the way for discussions on a governmental bill seeking to modify the Basic Law: Government to make it possible to increase the number of ministers.

Discussions on amending the basic law will begin this afternoon and the committee is likely to continue discussions well into the night.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking to pass the amendment to the law so that he will have leeway in appointing coalition members to ministerial positions, and – some analysts and critics assume – have the option of luring Zionist Union later into a unity government, a political move for which the prime minister would need the carrot of prestigious ministerial positions for Zionist Union MKs.

The ad hoc committee on formulating the bill comprises coalition and opposition MKs. It is headed by Likud faction chairman Ze’ev Elkin.