Benjamin Netanyahu has offered centrist newcomer Yair Lapid the choice of the finance or foreign ministry in his new cabinet, local media reported Friday, as the Israeli premier begins informal coalition talks.
Lapid, whose Yesh Atid party unexpectedly became the second largest in the 120-seat Knesset in elections this week, met Thursday in Jerusalem with Netanyahu.
Although formal talks cannot begin until President Shimon Peres has spoken with the leaders of all 12 parties in the new parliament next week, Netanyahu is regarded as certain to head the incoming government.
Despite the reports, Lapid warned on his Facebook page that "what is taking place right now is not coalition negotiations, or even the beginning of coalition negotiations."
"Does anyone really think this is how things are done?" he asked, and cautioned "patience."
Netanyahu's joint Likud-Beiteinu list won 31 mandates, while Yesh Atid won 19.
Netanyahu has already contacted all possible coalition partners, even those who have declared they have no intention of sitting in a government headed by him.
Lapid associates are reportedly advising him to turn down the finance ministry, warning him that he will pay a political price because of the widespread budgets cuts which are expected in the coming months.
But a senior member of Netanyahu's party countered that the finance portfolio was the one best suited to Lapid, who focused his election campaign on a domestic, socio-economic, agenda.
The Finance Ministry would enable Lapid to influence these issues, said outgoing Environment Minister Gilad Erdan.