Of the 20 government ministers taking office today, only three of them - Ariel Sharon, Sha'ul Mofaz, and Limor Livnat - are continuing in their old positions. Livnat's ministry, however, is no longer that of Education, but Education, Culture and Sport. Formal handing-over ceremonies took place today in the Ministries of Finance, Foreign Affairs, Public Security, Health, Industry and Trade, Immigrant Absorption, Justice, Interior, and more.
Outgoing Justice Minister Meir Sheetrit, who handed over his chair to Shinui leader Tommy Lapid, decried the fact that this is only the second time in Israel's history that the ruling party has not held the Justice Ministry. Incoming Absorption Minister Tzippy Livny, commenting on Prime Minister Sharon's request that all ministers have working plans ready by Tuesday, said that she also has expectations from Sharon: "He told me that he sees immigrant absorption as one of the country's main challenges and needs; I hope he will prove his intentions in the coming months and years." Political analysts say that most of the incoming ministers are not particularly happy about their new positions.
Incoming Justice Minister Yosef (Tommy) Lapid promised to take action against the long delays and backups in the court systems, which he said are the judicial system's "major weak points." Attorney-General Elyakim Rubenstein informed Lapid that he plans to resign within a month or two, though Lapid asked him to remain. Rubenstein said that in any event, he wants to first take care of some particularly sensitive cases, such as the Barak campaign associations and the Likud primaries. The Attorney-General has long been rumored to be eyeing a Supreme Court appointment. State Prosecutor Edna Arbel will also either resign or be replaced. Minister Lapid said today that he would not allow the establishment of a Constitutional Court that will come at the expense of the Supreme Court.
Outgoing Justice Minister Meir Sheetrit, who handed over his chair to Shinui leader Tommy Lapid, decried the fact that this is only the second time in Israel's history that the ruling party has not held the Justice Ministry. Incoming Absorption Minister Tzippy Livny, commenting on Prime Minister Sharon's request that all ministers have working plans ready by Tuesday, said that she also has expectations from Sharon: "He told me that he sees immigrant absorption as one of the country's main challenges and needs; I hope he will prove his intentions in the coming months and years." Political analysts say that most of the incoming ministers are not particularly happy about their new positions.
Incoming Justice Minister Yosef (Tommy) Lapid promised to take action against the long delays and backups in the court systems, which he said are the judicial system's "major weak points." Attorney-General Elyakim Rubenstein informed Lapid that he plans to resign within a month or two, though Lapid asked him to remain. Rubenstein said that in any event, he wants to first take care of some particularly sensitive cases, such as the Barak campaign associations and the Likud primaries. The Attorney-General has long been rumored to be eyeing a Supreme Court appointment. State Prosecutor Edna Arbel will also either resign or be replaced. Minister Lapid said today that he would not allow the establishment of a Constitutional Court that will come at the expense of the Supreme Court.