The NRP's two government ministers took the oath of office in the Knesset this afternoon: Effie Eitam will be Minister of Housing, and Zevulun Orlev will serve as Minister of Welfare. Natan Sharansky was sworn in as Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, responsible for Jerusalem Affairs. Dan Meridor will apparently not become a government minister at this stage.
Rabbi Yitzchak Levy, who took over from the late Zevulun Hammer as leader of the party before giving way to Eitam last year, will be Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's office, responsible for Religious Affairs. The Shinui Party demands that the Ministry for Religious Affairs be closed within a year, as the coalition agreement stipulates. MK Sha'ul Yahalom (NRP) explained that the dismantling of the Ministry of Religious Affairs involves a lengthy legislative process, and that before it is concluded, the department will continue to function out of the Prime Minister's Office.
New Knesset appointments within the Likud Party: MK Dr. Yuval Shteinitz will be the Chairman of the all-important Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. Michael Eitan will head the Law Committee, and Avraham Hirschson will chair the Finance Committee. Three new Knesset Members - Dr. Leah Ness, Atty. Roni Bar-On, and Gila Gamliel - will head the Science, House, and Women's Status Committees, respectively.
Rabbi Yitzchak Levy, who took over from the late Zevulun Hammer as leader of the party before giving way to Eitam last year, will be Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's office, responsible for Religious Affairs. The Shinui Party demands that the Ministry for Religious Affairs be closed within a year, as the coalition agreement stipulates. MK Sha'ul Yahalom (NRP) explained that the dismantling of the Ministry of Religious Affairs involves a lengthy legislative process, and that before it is concluded, the department will continue to function out of the Prime Minister's Office.
New Knesset appointments within the Likud Party: MK Dr. Yuval Shteinitz will be the Chairman of the all-important Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. Michael Eitan will head the Law Committee, and Avraham Hirschson will chair the Finance Committee. Three new Knesset Members - Dr. Leah Ness, Atty. Roni Bar-On, and Gila Gamliel - will head the Science, House, and Women's Status Committees, respectively.