The ministries that remain available for the Likud include some important ones, such as Finance, Education, Transportation, and Communications, together with some less important ones, such as Negev and Galilee Development, Pensioners, Environment, Health, Diaspora Affairs, Strategic Affairs, Peace Process Economics, and others.
Leading candidates in the Likud to become ministers are MKs Gideon Saar, Silvan Shalom, Yisrael Katz, Moshe Kachlon, Gilad Erdan, Yuval Shteinitz and Yuli Edelstein. In addition, newcomers Benny Begin, Moshe Yaalon and Dan Meridor are expected to clamor for posts as well.
Yaalon has already released Netanyahu from his promise to name him Defense Minister.
The Knesset Speaker, Reuven ("Ruby") Rivlin, will come from the Likud, as will the upcoming Deputy Prime Minister and Acting Prime Minister.
Netanyahu faced a similar situation in 1996, when the then-popular Ariel Sharon found himself without a ministerial portfolio in the new government. Netanyahu then fashioned a new ministry out of various departments from other ministries, called it National Infrastructures, and assigned it to Sharon. This time, as well, it is likely that new ministries will have to be formed in a creative manner.
At present, it appears that Netanyahu will retain the Finance Ministry for himself, Saar will become Education Minister, and Livnat will return to the Communications Ministry.
