(JPOST).Prime Minister-designate Binyamin Netanyahu's Likud rival, MK Silvan Shalom, intends to reject an offer from Netanyahu on Monday to receive the honorary title of vice premier and responsibility for regional cooperation, sources close to Shalom said Sunday night.
Netanyahu hoped the two roles, which were both held by President Shimon Peres in the past, would satisfy Shalom. But Shalom's associates said he would settle for nothing less than the Finance portfolio and the title of vice prime minister, which involves filling in as acting prime minister when the prime minister is abroad or incapacitated and allowed Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to succeed Ariel Sharon.
Supporters of Shalom in the Likud central committee threatened that if Netanyahu did not improve his offer to Shalom, they would "declare war" against him and use the party's institutions to try to bring him down. They said Shalom would also "join the opposition" to Netanyahu in the Knesset.
