Ariel Sharon sits in the Opposition one last time. (AP)

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	All the PM's men (and women)
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	Sharon unveils unity government FSNtv.com
	The Knesset
	Prime Minister's Office

Ariel Sharon will present his government today, supported by at least 73 members of the Knesset. The national unity coalition that Sharon established spans the political spectrum, with the Labor Party on the left and the National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu faction on the right. At the center of the government are Shas, Yisrael Ba'aliya, the New Way and Am Ehad, all in addition to Sharon's Likud Party.

A special Knesset session will take place, with President Moshe Katsav, the justices of the Supreme Court, the chief rabbis and other top dignitaries in attendance. Sharon will ask the Knesset to approve the basic principles and ministerial appointments of his government. The Knesset will also hear outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Barak's farewell speech.

The national unity coalition will comprise Israel's largest government ever, with 26 ministers and 12 deputy ministers. An additional three deputy ministers may still be added when a deal is finalized with United Torah Judaism.

A number of expected, natural coalition partners were left out of the government, which Sharon had promised would be "as wide as possible." Last minute negotiations broke down with the National Religious Party and the five-man Center Party faction. Earlier David Levy announced that Gesher would not be a part of Sharon's coalition.

Likud negotiators did conclude an agreement with Dalia Rabin-Pelossof, who recently broke off from the Center Party to form her own New Way faction. Rabin-Pelossof will serve as Deputy Defense Minister. Also added to the government was Amir Peretz's Am Ehad faction.

Sharon finalizes appointments, faces last issues
Last night Sharon met with members of the Likud, finalizing ministerial appointments. Silvan Shalom was selected to serve as Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister. "I thank the prime minister-elect and hope we will go forth on a new path, managing the country and the people of Israel in a manner worthy of the mandate given to us by the nation," Shalom said after meeting with Sharon.

Sharon's appointments did result in a number of surprises. Limor Livnat was overjoyed with her Education portfolio, the position she said she had wanted all along. Meir Sheetrit couldn't hide his disappointment when selected to be the Justice Minister; he said that he had been the natural selection for Education. Another unexpected selection was that of Uzi Landau, who will serve as Minister of Internal Security.

The only remaining issues left before Ariel Sharon's government can take office are the bills the Knesset is facing in sessions planned for today. The first reading of the State budget, prepared by the outgoing Labor government, is expected to pass. Uncertain is the fate of the Direct Elections Law repeal. Uzi Landau has said that he may withdraw the bill if he does not see enough support for it in the Knesset.

More critical to Sharon's incoming coalition is the issue of draft deferments for yeshiva students. Shas has threatened to vote against the government if the present status quo, granting yeshiva students automatic exemption from army service, is not extended by two years. The Labor Party has announced that it will vote to extend the law only by one year.

Israel Radio interviewed the Prime Minister-elect late last night when he had finished announcing the assignments in his new government. "After so many years in politics, I am not all that excited about this," Sharon said. "I do feel the weight of responsibility, particularly in the period we are presently facing, and I am certain that along with my partners in the government, we will know how to provide the best answers."

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