| Submit your comments on this article |
| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Bibi names cabinet; ready to swear in |
| 2009-03-31 |
| Israel's prime minister-designate has named his 30-member cabinet, appointing Likud parliamentarians as minister, some without portfolios. Benjamin Netanyahu began informing his Likud party's Knesset (Parliament) members of their designated positions in Israel's 32nd government on Monday afternoon. Likud MKs Michael Eitan, Yossi Peled and Moshe Kahlon were the first to receive their ministerial posts. Eitan and Peled were both told they would be ministers without portfolios, while Kahlon received the entire Communications Ministry, and not just part of it as was initially speculated. Instead, Peled, who formerly served as OC Northern Command, was told that he would be among the few ministers to earn a seat on the security cabinet. Eitan was tasked with improving services for citizens, computerization and Internet. MK Yuli Edelstein, who had been expected to share the Communications Ministry with Kahlon, denied that he had been promised the post. He told reporters that he would instead be given a "practical" position which is yet to be determined. Netanyahu has created new positions which previously did not exist, accordingly Israel's parliament has requested a larger table for cabinet meetings. One of such positions was offered to MK Gila Gamliel, who was appointed as deputy minister for women and youth affairs. The Premier-designate is expected to take the finance portfolio for himself and to appoint Yuval Steinitz as his deputy. Sources close to Netanyahu said he would not appoint an acting prime minister in case of emergency. The two position filled by Netanyahu, were precisely those sought by Silvan Shalom, but it is believed that he would be appointed as vice premier and minister for regional development, or minister for economic peace and deputy prime minister. Other Likud officials to join the coalition include Ya'akov Ne'eman (Justice Ministry) Gideon Sa'ar (Education), Yisrael Katz (Transportation), Moshe Ya'alon (Strategic Affairs), Gilad Erdan (Sports and Culture) and Yuli Edelstien (likely to take Media and Telecommunications). Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigador Lieberman is named as foreign minister, while four other party members will fill positions, including the Public Security Ministry (Yitzhak Aharonovitch), the Infrastructure Ministry (Uzi Landau), Tourism (Stav Miznikov) and Absorption and Immigration (Sofa Landover). Labor Party chairman Ehud Barak, who will retain his position as defense minister gave Avishay Braverman Labor's fifth ministerial post -- minister without portfolio with responsibility for minorities. Labor minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer will take on the Trade, Labor and Industry portfolio, Shalom Simhon will serve as Agriculture Minister, and Labor No. 2 Isaac Herzog will head the Welfare Ministry. Netanyahu officially informed acting-Knesset Speaker Michael Eitan on Monday that he has succeeded in assembling the cabinet and would be prepared to swear in the new ministers on Tuesday afternoon. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 Bibi names cabinet; ready to swear There, fixed it for you. The comment as it reads above is much more in tune with trying to build a "concensus" in the Israeli parliament. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2009-03-31 23:08 |