New posts offered to Israel's Lapid

JERUSALEM - Agence France-Presse

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has offered Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid, Israel’s newest political star, the post of foreign minister or finance minister in the new government. Quoting sources close to both men, who held secret talks at Netanyahu’s Jerusalem home on Jan. 24, the daily Yediot Aharonot said Lapid had been offered the position as Israel’s top diplomat or as head of the Treasury.

Both portfolios, as well as the Defense Ministry, are the most senior Cabinet positions, although Lapid was not thought to be interested in taking the defense portfolio.

The report said Lapid was more likely to be interested in the housing or interior ministries in keeping with his party’s socially oriented election campaign.