Prime Minister Ehud Olmert formed one of Israel's largest governments in history last year when he appointed 25 ministers. Five years earlier, Ariel Sharon headed an even larger government, with 26 ministers - including four without portfolio.
Prime Ministers have also created new Cabinet portfolios in recent years, simply in order to be able to appoint more Cabinet members. A notable example occurred in 1996 when Binyamin Netanyahu created the Infrastructures Ministry specifically for Ariel Sharon.
The current government includes two new ministries: The Ministry of Pensioner Affairs, headed by Rafi Eitan of the Pensioners Party, and the Ministry of Strategic Affairs, led by Yisrael Beiteinu's Avigdor Lieberman. Yet, despite the common perception that the last elections focused heavily on social welfare, none of the more than two dozen current ministers head the Welfare Ministry. Olmert, who has come under heavy criticism for this, says he will soon name a Welfare Minister.
Many across the political spectrum question why a country as small as Israel, with some seven million citizens, would require so many cabinet ministries. By contrast, the United States, with over 300 million residents, has only 15 cabinet portfolios in the executive branch.
Members of Knesset now are legislating steps to limit the number of portfolios a prime minister may assign. The current bill drafted by Likud MKs Reuven Rivlin and Gideon Saar passed its first reading almost unanimously. Eight ministers were among those voting in favor of the bill.
The bill is meant to limit the prime minister’s ability to use government funds and cabinet posts for political purposes, said Rivlin. “This law creates a rule to govern the coalition game and reels in political excess and favors,” he added.
Only seven MKs voted against the measure - all of them from the Yisrael Beiteinu party. A party spokesman said that party chairman Lieberman has already presented his own plan for government reform, which includes a limit on the number of cabinet ministers allowed.
Operating expenses for the current 27-member Olmert cabinet of ministers and deputy ministers total well over NIS 100 million per year.
The bill now goes to the Knesset Law, Constitution and Justice Committee. If approved there, it will be sent to the Knesset for its final readings.
Prime Ministers have also created new Cabinet portfolios in recent years, simply in order to be able to appoint more Cabinet members. A notable example occurred in 1996 when Binyamin Netanyahu created the Infrastructures Ministry specifically for Ariel Sharon.
The current government includes two new ministries: The Ministry of Pensioner Affairs, headed by Rafi Eitan of the Pensioners Party, and the Ministry of Strategic Affairs, led by Yisrael Beiteinu's Avigdor Lieberman. Yet, despite the common perception that the last elections focused heavily on social welfare, none of the more than two dozen current ministers head the Welfare Ministry. Olmert, who has come under heavy criticism for this, says he will soon name a Welfare Minister.
Many across the political spectrum question why a country as small as Israel, with some seven million citizens, would require so many cabinet ministries. By contrast, the United States, with over 300 million residents, has only 15 cabinet portfolios in the executive branch.
Members of Knesset now are legislating steps to limit the number of portfolios a prime minister may assign. The current bill drafted by Likud MKs Reuven Rivlin and Gideon Saar passed its first reading almost unanimously. Eight ministers were among those voting in favor of the bill.
The bill is meant to limit the prime minister’s ability to use government funds and cabinet posts for political purposes, said Rivlin. “This law creates a rule to govern the coalition game and reels in political excess and favors,” he added.
Only seven MKs voted against the measure - all of them from the Yisrael Beiteinu party. A party spokesman said that party chairman Lieberman has already presented his own plan for government reform, which includes a limit on the number of cabinet ministers allowed.
Operating expenses for the current 27-member Olmert cabinet of ministers and deputy ministers total well over NIS 100 million per year.
The bill now goes to the Knesset Law, Constitution and Justice Committee. If approved there, it will be sent to the Knesset for its final readings.