Fifth government of Israel explained

Cabinet Name:First Sharett Cabinet
Cabinet Number:5th
Jurisdiction:Israel
Flag:Flag of Israel.svg
Flag Border:true
State Head:Yitzhak Ben-Zvi
Legislature Status:coalition
Political Parties:Mapai
General Zionists
Progressive Party
Hapoel HaMizrachi
Poalei Agudat Yisrael
Democratic List for Israeli Arabs
Progress and Work
Agriculture and Development
Previous:4th cabinet of Israel
Successor:6th cabinet of Israel
Legislature Term:2nd Knesset
Opposition Leader:Meir Ya'ari

The fifth government of Israel was formed by Moshe Sharett during the second Knesset on 26 January 1954, and was the first government not led by David Ben-Gurion. Sharett kept the same coalition partners as during the fourth government, i.e. Mapai, the General Zionists, the Progressive Party, Mizrachi, Hapoel HaMizrachi, the Democratic List for Israeli Arabs, Progress and Work and Agriculture and Development.

The only changes to the previous government were Sharett taking over as PM, Pinhas Lavon as Minister of Defense, the addition of Zalman Aran as a Minister without Portfolio and the dropping of the two Mizrachi and Hapoel HaMizrachi Deputy Ministerial posts.

Ben-Gurion returned to the government in February 1955, replacing Lavon following the former's resignation over the Lavon Affair.

The government fell when Sharett resigned on 29 June 1955, when the General Zionists refused to abstain from voting on a motion of no-confidence brought by Herut and Maki over the government's position on the trial of Malkiel Gruenwald, who had accused Israel Kastzner of collaborating with the Nazis.

The Cabinet
PositionPersonParty
Prime Minister
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Moshe SharettMapai
Minister of AgriculturePeretz NaftaliMapai
Minister of DefensePinhas Lavon (until 21 February 1955)
David Ben-Gurion (after 21 February 1955)
Mapai
Mapai
Minister of DevelopmentDov YosefMapai
Minister of Education and CultureBen-Zion DinorNot an MK
Minister of FinanceLevi EshkolMapai
Minister of HealthYosef SerlinGeneral Zionists
Minister of Internal AffairsIsrael RokahGeneral Zionists
Minister of JusticePinchas RosenProgressive Party
Minister of LabourGolda MeirMapai
Minister of PoliceBechor-Shalom SheetritMapai
Minister of Postal ServicesYosef BurgHapoel HaMizrachi
Minister of Religions
Minister of Welfare
Haim-Moshe ShapiraHapoel HaMizrachi
Minister of Trade and IndustryPeretz BernsteinGeneral Zionists
Minister of TransportationYosef SapirGeneral Zionists
Minister without PortfolioZalman AranMapai
Deputy Minister of Education and CultureKalman KahanaPoalei Agudat Yisrael
Deputy Minister of Trade and IndustryZalman SuzayivGeneral Zionists

External links