DEFENSE MINISTER SHAUL MOFAZ, REGARDED BY PALESTINIANS AS ONE OF THE MOST HARDLINE MEMBERS OF ISRAEL'S CABINET, APPEARED LIKELY ON SUNDAY TO LOSE HIS POST TO A DOVISH POLITICIAN IN THE NEXT GOVERNMENT, REUTERS REPORTED. ACTING PRIME MINISTER EHUD OLMERT AGREED IN COALITION TALKS TO NAME AMIR PERETZ, HEAD OF THE CENTRE-LEFT LABOUR PARTY, AS DEFENSE CHIEF, LABOUR OFFICIALS SAID. "WE HAVE RECEIVED THE MOST IMPORTANT PORTFOLIO FROM A SECURITY AND POLITICAL STANDPOINT," LABOUR LAWMAKER EFRAIM SNEH TOLD ISRAEL RADIO. LABOUR FINISHED SECOND TO OLMERT'S CENTRIST KADIMA PARTY IN ISRAEL'S MARCH 28 ELECTION AND ITS SUPPORT IS CRUCIAL TO HIS EFFORTS TO FORM A BROAD COALITION.
