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The Cabinet of Israel (officially: Hebrew: ממשלת ישראל‎ Memshelet Yisrael, English: Government of Israel) is a formal body composed of government officials, ministers, chosen and led by a Prime Minister. Its composition must be approved by a vote in the Knesset. Under Israeli law, the Prime Minister may remove members of the Cabinet, but must do so in writing, and new appointees must again be approved by the Knesset. Most ministers are heads of government departments, though some are Ministers without portfolio. Also most ministers are members of the Knesset, though only the Prime Minister and the Designated Acting Prime Minister are actually required to be Knesset members. Some ministers are called also Deputy and Vice Prime Ministers. Unlike the Designated Acting Prime Minister, these roles have no statutory meanings. The cabinet operates according to the Basic Law: The Government.

The cabinet meets weekly on Sundays in Jerusalem. There may be additional meetings if circumstances require it. The prime minister chairs the meetings.

Use of terms

The body discussed in this article is referred to in Israeli official documents as the Government of Israel. This is in accordance to the normal translation of its Hebrew name, (Hebrew: ממשלה‎, Memshala). In Israel, the term cabinet (Hebrew: קבינט‎) is generally used for the Political-Security Cabinet (Hebrew: הקבינט המדיני-ביטחוני‎ HaKabinet haMedini-Bitachoni), a smaller forum of cabinet members that decides on defense and foreign policy issues and may consist of up to half of the (full) cabinet members. Another term in use is the Kitchen Cabinet (Hebrew: המטבחון‎, HaMitbahon, lit. "The kitchenette"), a collection of senior officials, or unofficial advisers to the Security Cabinet of Israel.

Interim Government

First Cabinet

The first cabinet was the provisional government of Israel (HaMemshela HaZmanit) which governed Israel from shortly before independence until the formation of the first government in March 1949 following the first Knesset elections in January that year. It was formed as "Minhelet HaAm" (People's Administration) on 12 April 1948, in preparation for independence just over a month later. All its thirteen members were taken from Moetzet HaAm, the temporary legislative body set up at the same time.

Current Cabinet

Following the 2009 Knesset elections, a new government was formed on 31 March 2009. It consisted of a coalition of Likud, Yisrael Beiteinu, Shas, the Labor Party, The Jewish Home, and on April 1, United Torah Judaism joined as well. It is the largest cabinet in the country's history, in terms of the number of ministers: it contains 30 ministers and nine deputy ministers.^[1], and is also known as "2nd Netanyahu Government". ^[2]

Basic Policy Guidelines

A paper presented to the Knesset's approval alongside the Government [2]:

• The Government will actively seek to fortify the national security and bestow personal security on its citizens while vigorously and determinedly fighting against violence and terror.
• The Government will advance the political process and act to promote peace with all our neighbors, while preserving the security, historic and national interests of Israel.
• The Government will advance a program to deal with the economic crisis and act to create economic conditions that will allow for sustainable growth, as well as create and maintain jobs in the economy.
• The Government will strive for social justice by reducing social gaps and uncompromisingly fight against poverty through education, employment and an increase in assistance to the weaker segments of the population.
• The Government will place the issue of immigration and immigrant absorption at the top of its list of priorities and will work vigorously to increase immigration from all countries of the world.
• The Government will place education at the center of its list of national priorities and will act to advance reforms in the education system.
• The Government will preserve the Jewish character of the State and the legacy of Israel, as well as honor the religions and traditions of members of other religions in the country in accordance with the values of the Declaration of Independence.
• The Government will act to advance governmental reforms to improve stability and governability.
• The Government will act to fortify the rule of law in Israel.
• The Government will act to protect the environment in Israel, improve the quality of life for the residents of the country and increase Israel’s participation in contributing to the global effort with regard to the climate and the environment.

Cabinet members

Deputy Ministers

References

External links

• Current and past cabinets Knesset website (English)
• Basic Law:The Government (2001) Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs (English)

Israeli Cabinet portfolios Prime Minister · Deputy Prime Minister · Vice Prime Minister · Agriculture & Rural Development · Communications · Culture & Sport · Defense · Development of the Negev and Galilee · Economic Strategy · Education · Environmental Protection · Finance · Foreign Affairs · Health · Housing & Construction · Immigrant Absorption · Improvement of Government Services · Industry, Trade & Labour · Information & Diaspora · Intelligence & Atomic Energy · Internal Affairs · Internal Security · Justice · Minorities · National Infrastructure · Pensioner Affairs · Regional Development · Religious Services · Science & Technology · Strategic Affairs · Tourism · Transportation & Road Safety · Welfare & Social Services · Prime Minister's Office Inactive portfolios: Acting Prime Minister · Development · Labour · Jerusalem Affairs  · Rationing & Supply

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