Thirty-second government of Israel

Netanyahu II cabinet
Netanyahu II cabinet
; 32nd Cabinet of Israel
Date formed	31 March 2009
Date dissolved	18 March 2013
People and organisations
Head of state	Shimon Peres
Head of government	Benjamin Netanyahu
Deputy head of government	Silvan Shalom; Moshe Ya'alon; Ehud Barak; Avigdor Lieberman; Dan Meridor; Eli Yishai; Shaul Mofaz (from 8 May 2012 to 17 July 2012)
Member party	Likud; Yisrael Beiteinu; Shas; Labor (until 17 January 2011); The Jewish Home; Independence (from 17 January 2011); United Torah Judaism (from 1 April 2009) ; Kadima (from 8 May 2012 to 17 July 2012)
Status in legislature	Grand Coalition (2009–2011); Centre-right (2011–2013)
Opposition party	Kadima
Opposition leader	Shaul Mofaz
History
Election	Knesset elections, 2009
Legislature term	18th Knesset
Predecessor	31st
Successor	33rd

The Thirty-second government of Israel, also known as the Second Netanyahu Government,^[1] was the largest cabinet in the country's history, in terms of the number of ministers: initially containing 30 ministers and nine deputy ministers, it later added another deputy prime minister as of May 2012 until he resigned in July 2012.^[2]

Formation

Following the 2009 Knesset elections, the new government was formed on 31 March 2009. It consisted of a coalition of Likud, Yisrael Beiteinu, Shas, the Labor and the Jewish Home. The parties formed a center-right coalition government.^[3]

Changes since formation

On 1 April 2009, United Torah Judaism joined as well.

In January 2011, Labor Party leader Ehud Barak formed a breakaway party, Independence, which enabled him to maintain his loyal Labor's MK faction within Netanyahu's government, and prevented the departure of Labor party as a whole from Netanyahu's coalition-government. Labor previously threatened to force Barak to do so. After Barak's move, Netanyahu was able to maintain a majority of 66 MK (out 120 in the Knesset), previously having 74 MKs within his majority coalition.

On 8 May 2012, following weeks of speculation that early elections would be called, Netanyahu announced a new National Unity Coalition after striking a deal with Kadima head Shaul Mofaz bringing the coalition majority to 94 MKs.^[4]

Kadima subsequently left the ruling coalition on 17 July due to a dispute over the Tal Law.^[5]

Basic policy guidelines

A paper presented to the Knesset's approval alongside the Government said that the Government would:^[6]

actively seek to fortify the national security and bestow personal security on its citizens while vigorously and determinedly fighting against violence and terror.
advance the political process and act to promote peace with all our neighbors, while preserving the security, historic and national interests of Israel.
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.
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.
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.
place education at the center of its list of national priorities and will act to advance reforms in the education system.
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.
act to advance governmental reforms to improve stability and governability.
act to fortify the rule of law in Israel.
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

The cabinet had 30 members.

Portfolio	Minister	Party
Prime Minister Minister of Economic Strategy Minister of Health Minister of Pensioner Affairs	Benjamin Netanyahu	Likud
Vice Prime Minister Minister of Development of the Negev and Galilee Minister of Regional Development	Silvan Shalom	Likud
Vice Prime Minister Minister of Strategic Affairs	Moshe Ya'alon	Likud
Vice Prime Minister Minister without Portfolio	Shaul Mofaz (09/05/2012 - 19/07/2012)	Kadima
Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Defense	Ehud Barak	Israeli Labor Party, from 17/01/2011: Independence
Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Foreign Affairs	Avigdor Lieberman till 18/12/2012	Yisrael Beitenu
Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Intelligence and Atomic Energy	Dan Meridor	Likud
Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Internal Affairs	Eli Yishai	Shas
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development	Shalom Simhon till 19/01/2011 Orit Noked from 19/01/2011	Israeli Labor Party Independence
Minister of Communications	Moshe Kahlon	Likud
Minister of Culture and Sport	Limor Livnat	Likud
Minister of Education	Gideon Sa'ar	Likud
Minister of Energy and Water	Uzi Landau	Yisrael Beitenu
Minister of Environmental Protection	Gilad Erdan	Likud
Minister of Finance	Yuval Steinitz	Likud
Minister for Home Front Defense	Matan Vilnai till 15/08/2012 Avi Dichter from 16/0/2012	Israeli Labor Party, from 17/01/2011: Independence Independent (ex-Kadima)
Minister of Housing and Construction	Ariel Atias	Shas
Minister of Immigrant Absorption	Sofa Landver	Yisrael Beitenu
Minister of Improvement of Government Services	Michael Eitan	Likud
Minister of Industry, Trade, and Labour Minister of Minorities	Binyamin Ben-Eliezer till 19/01/2011 Shalom Simhon from 19/01/2011	Israeli Labor Party Independence
Minister of Information and Diaspora	Yuli-Yoel Edelstein	Likud
Minister of Internal Security	Yitzhak Aharonovich	Yisrael Beitenu
Minister of Justice	Ya'akov Ne'eman	Appointed^[7]
Minister of Religious Services	Ya'akov Margi	Shas
Minister of Science and Technology	Daniel Hershkowitz	The Jewish Home
Minister of Tourism	Stas Misezhnikov	Yisrael Beitenu
Minister of Transportation, National Infrastructure and Road Safety	Israel Katz	Likud
Minister of Welfare and Social Services	Isaac Herzog till 19/01/2011 Moshe Kahlon from 19/01/2011	Israeli Labor Party Likud
Minister without Portfolio	Benny Begin	Likud
	Meshulam Nahari	Shas
	Yossi Peled till 29/09/2012	Likud

Deputy Ministers

Portfolio	Minister	Party
Deputy Minister of the Development of the Negev and Galilee	Ayoob Kara	Likud
Deputy Minister of Education	Meir Porush	United Torah Judaism
Deputy Minister of Finance	Yitzhak Cohen	Shas
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs	Daniel Ayalon	Yisrael Beitenu
Deputy Minister of Health	Yaakov Litzman^[8]	United Torah Judaism
Deputy Minister of Pensioner Affairs	Lea Nass	Likud
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Office	Gila Gamliel	Likud
Deputy Minister of Education	Meir Porush till 06/02/2011 Menachem Eliezer Moses from 09/02/2011	United Torah Judaism
Deputy Minister of Industry, Trade, and Labor	Orit Noked till 19/01/2011	Israeli Labor Party

References

^ מרנדה, אמנון (31 March 2009). "ynet הכנסת אישרה: ממשלת נתניהו יצאה לדרך - חדשות". Ynet. Ynet.co.il. Retrieved 2015-03-16.
^ "Cabinet Missing Health Minister - Politics & Gov't - News - Arutz Sheva". Israelnationalnews.com. 2009-01-04. Retrieved 2015-03-16.
^ Christa Case Bryant (January 23, 2013). "Centrists make strong show in Israel, tempering Netanyahu". Christian Science Monitor.
^ "Mofar Won't Stay Alone. Soon: More Ministers from Kadima". Ynet.co.il. Retrieved 2015-03-16.
^ "Kadima quits Israel government over conscription law". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-03-16.
^ "Government Policy". Archived from the original on November 5, 2011. Retrieved December 9, 2011.
^ "He has failed the make-up test, too". Haaretz. Haaretz.com. 2009-03-13. Retrieved 2015-03-16.
^ ויסמן, לילך (2009-04-05). "מונה שר בריאות בממשלת נתניהו: יו"ר סיעת יהדות התורה, ח"כ יעקב ליצמן - גלובס". Globes. Globes.co.il. Retrieved 2015-03-16.

[1] מרנדה, אמנון (31 March 2009). "ynet הכנסת אישרה: ממשלת נתניהו יצאה לדרך - חדשות". Ynet. Ynet.co.il. Retrieved 2015-03-16.

[2] "Cabinet Missing Health Minister - Politics & Gov't - News - Arutz Sheva". Israelnationalnews.com. 2009-01-04. Retrieved 2015-03-16.

[3] Christa Case Bryant (January 23, 2013). "Centrists make strong show in Israel, tempering Netanyahu". Christian Science Monitor.

[4] "Mofar Won't Stay Alone. Soon: More Ministers from Kadima". Ynet.co.il. Retrieved 2015-03-16.

[5] "Kadima quits Israel government over conscription law". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-03-16.

[6] "Government Policy". Archived from the original on November 5, 2011. Retrieved December 9, 2011.

[7] "He has failed the make-up test, too". Haaretz. Haaretz.com. 2009-03-13. Retrieved 2015-03-16.

[8] ויסמן, לילך (2009-04-05). "מונה שר בריאות בממשלת נתניהו: יו"ר סיעת יהדות התורה, ח"כ יעקב ליצמן - גלובס". Globes. Globes.co.il. Retrieved 2015-03-16.

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