Avraham Shochat is to be Minister of Finance, Yossi Beilin Minister of Justice, Shlomo Ben-Ami Minister of Internal Security, and Dalia Itzik Minister for Environmental Affairs. This was decided by Prime Minister Elect Ehud Barak, who so informed designated cabinet ministers.
Haim Ramon and Binyamin Ben-Eliezer have yet to be notified of their cabinet posts. It appears that Ben-Eliezer will be Minister of Communications and Haim Ramon Minister without portfolio in the Prime Minister's Office, in charge of liaison between the government and the Knesset.
Shochat told "Globes" he believes his experience as Minister of Finance until three years ago will enable him and his fellow cabinet members to march the economy into the modern age, toward growth based also on the peace process. He added that the object of Barak’s government is first and foremost economic stability, more jobs and responsible administration of the economy.
Shas’s Council of Torah Sages chose Eliyahu Suissa as its candidate for Minister of National Infrastructures, and MK Yitzhak Cohen as Minister of Religious Affairs. Eli Yishai will continue as Minister of Labour and Social affairs. MK Nissim Dahan will be Deputy Minister of the Interior.
The Knesset this morning examined the possibility that Ehud Barak’s presentation of the his government would be brought forward to tomorrow. Presentation of the government is contingent on all coalition agreements being submitted to the Secretary of Knesset at least twenty-four hours in advance. One Israel plans to place the agreements on the Knesset’s table at 16:00 today.
The Likud faction, learning of the ministerial appointments, commented: "Unsuitable individuals have been chosen for the wrong positions. Shochat has been there before, and led the economy into tremendous deficits. Beilin will be the first Minister of Justice in the history of Israel with no legal training. Ben-Ami, too, lacks qualifications for the job", the Likud maintains.
This afternoon the Labor Party central committee approved Ehud Barak's cabinet appointments. However, it rejected Barak's choice for candidate for Knesset speaker, Shalom Simchon, in favor of Avrom Burg. The vote was widely interpreted as a slap in the face for Barak, and as a warning that the party was unhappy with his autocratic style.
Published by Israel's Business Arena July 5, 1999