Netanyahu names cabinet
New Israeli leader leaves out hard-liner Sharon
June 18, 1996
Web posted at: 8:30 p.m. EDT (0030 GMT)JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new Cabinet was sworn in Tuesday, giving Israel a hard-line government led by the Likud.
The 120-seat parliament approved the 16-member Cabinet by a 62-50 vote. Approval came after a series of delays and a revolt within Netanyahu's Likud coalition. The protest centered around the role of right wing faction leader Ariel Sharon, who was instrumental in rallying last-minute support from religious leaders in Netanyahu's narrow victory over Shimon Peres.
Sharon, a former general and defense minister, had been vying for the defense or finance ministry posts. Instead, he was offered a broad "infrastructure ministry" that included the existing energy portfolio, the nation's train system, and road construction.
The arrangement was not final. Netanyahu retained the international affairs, housing and religious affairs ministries for himself -- at least for now.
The Cabinet's swearing-in was delayed by five hours while David Levy, who was slated to become foreign minister, tried to work out an agreement that would include Sharon. Neither Sharon nor Levy took part in the swearing-in ceremony.
In a speech to the Knesset earlier in the day, Netanyahu called on Arab leaders, including Syrian President Hafez Assad, to enter peace negotiations with Israel "without preconditions." (Voice of translator)
(416K AIFF or WAV sound)Acknowledging that achieving peace with Israel's Arab neighbors won't be easy, Netanyahu said he was willing to negotiate "directly" with the Syrian leader and his Lebanese counterpart, Elias Hrawi. "We want a lasting peace, based foremost on security for the state of Israel and its inhabitants," he said. (More from Netanyahu, speaking through translator). (160K AIFF or WAV sound)
Before Netanyahu named his cabinet choices, Syria lambasted the new Israeli leader for bringing "rabbis, racists and generals" bent on war in the Middle East into his new government.
Challenge from Peres
Peres, who remains a member of the Knesset, addressed the parliament in his new role as opposition leader. He called on Netanyahu to show his commitment to peace by redeploying Israeli troops from the West Bank city of Hebron as required by a peace agreement.
"The Palestinian Authority has respected its commitments, including in the security area, and we must respect ours," he said.
Peres also appealed to Netanyahu to hold direct talks with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, something Israel's prime minister-elect has so far refused. (More from Peres, speaking through translator). (192K AIFF or WAV sound)
Peres told fellow Labor Party members Tuesday he would remain as party leader despite calls within Labor for new leadership.
Netanyahu's other cabinet appointments:
- Iraqi-born Yitzhak Mordechai, a retired general and political newcomer, was selected as defense minister. He served in every major command from the Golan Heights to the Gaza Strip.
- Dan Meridor, a former justice minister and head of the party's moderate wing, is slated for finance minister.
- Avigdor Kahalani, a former Labor Party member who formed a party called the "Third Way" because of his opposition to returning the Golan Heights to Syria, was chosen as internal security minister.
- Yaakov Neeman, a corporate attorney and former law professor, was the candidate for justice minister.
- Benny Begin, son of late Prime Minister Menachem Begin, agreed to be science and technology minister.
- Moshe Katzav, head of the Likud faction in the Knesset, was chosen as minister of tourism.
- Nathan Sharansky, the Soviet dissident who immigrated to Israel a decade ago after nine years in Soviet prison, accepted the post of trade and commerce minister.
- Rafael Eytan was selected as minister of agriculture and environment.
- Zevulun Hammer was selected as minister of education and religious affairs.
- Eli Suissa was selected as minister of the interior.
- Yuli Edelstein was selected as minister of immigration.
- Tsahi Hanegbi was selected as minister of health.
- Limor Livnat was selected as minister of telecommunications.
- Yitzhak Levy was selected as minister of transport and energy.
- Eli Yishai was selected as minister of labor and social affairs.
Some coalition members such as Sharansky are committed to furthering the interests of Israel's secular majority.
But the three Orthodox religious parties -- which control a record 23 Knesset seats -- have opposing demands for a stricter observance of Jewish law and have already angered Reform and Conservative Jews in Israel and the United States by demanding that the non-Orthodox be excluded from control over religious affairs.
Bureau Chief Walter Rodgers, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
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