Tenth government of Israel explained

Cabinet Name:Eighth Ben-Gurion Cabinet
Cabinet Number:10th
Jurisdiction:Israel
Flag:Flag of Israel.svg
Flag Border:true
Government Head:David Ben-Gurion
State Head:Yitzhak Ben-Zvi (until 23 April 1963)
Zalman Shazar (from 21 May 1963)
Legislature Status:Coalition
Political Parties:Mapai
National Religious Party
Ahdut HaAvoda
Poalei Agudat Yisrael
Cooperation and Brotherhood
Progress and Development
Previous:9th cabinet of Israel
Successor:11th cabinet of Israel
Legislature Term:5th Knesset
Election:1961 Israeli legislative election
Opposition Leader:Menachem Begin

The tenth government of Israel was formed on 2 November 1961 following the August elections. Although David Ben-Gurion was appointed Prime Minister, the government was actually formed by Minister of Finance Levi Eshkol. On 7 September Ben-Gurion had told President Yitzhak Ben-Zvi that he was unable to form a government; on 14 September Ben-Zvi asked Eshkol to form a government, with Eshkol subsequently announcing that he would do so with Ben-Gurion as PM.[1] It turned out to be the last government led by Ben-Gurion.

The coalition included Mapai, the National Religious Party, Ahdut HaAvoda, Poalei Agudat Yisrael, Cooperation and Brotherhood and Progress and Development. Deputy Ministers were appointed four days after the cabinet was in place.

The government fell on 16 June 1963 when Ben-Gurion resigned "because of personal needs". However, in reality he was annoyed at a perceived lack of support from his colleagues.[2]

Cabinet members

PositionPersonParty
Prime Minister
David Ben-GurionMapai
Minister of AgricultureMoshe DayanMapai
Minister of DefenseDavid Ben-GurionMapai
Minister of DevelopmentGiora Yoseftal (until 23 August 1962) 1Mapai
Yosef Almogi (from 30 October 1962)Mapai
Minister of Education and CultureAbba EbanMapai
Minister of FinanceLevi EshkolMapai
Minister of Foreign AffairsGolda MeirMapai
Minister of HealthHaim-Moshe ShapiraNational Religious Party
Minister of HousingGiora Yoseftal (until 23 August 1962) 1Mapai
Yosef Almogi (from 30 October 1962)Mapai
Minister of Internal AffairsHaim-Moshe ShapiraNational Religious Party
Minister of JusticeDov YosefNot an MK 2
Minister of LabourYigal AllonMapai
Minister of PoliceBechor-Shalom SheetritMapai
Minister of Postal ServicesEliyahu SassonNot an MK 3
Minister of ReligionsZerach WarhaftigNational Religious Party
Minister of Trade and IndustryPinhas SapirMapai
Minister of TransportationYitzhak Ben-Aharon (until 28 May 1962)Ahdut HaAvoda
Yisrael Bar-Yehuda (from 28 May 1962)Ahdut HaAvoda
Minister of WelfareYosef BurgNational Religious Party
Minister without PortfolioYosef Almogi (until 30 October 1962)Mapai
Deputy Minister of DefenseShimon PeresMapai
Deputy Minister of Education and CultureAmi Assaf (until 17 May 1963) 1Mapai
Kalman Kahana (from 29 November 1961)Poalei Agudat Yisrael
Deputy Minister of FinanceYitzhak Coren (from 30 May 1962)Mapai
Deputy Minister of HealthYitzhak RafaelNational Religious Party
Deputy Minister of Internal AffairsShlomo-Yisrael Ben-Meir (from 18 February 1962)National Religious Party

1 Died in office.

2 Although Yosef was not an MK at the time, he was a member of Mapai.

3 Although Sasson was not an MK at the time, he was elected to the next Knesset as a member of the Alignment, an alliance of Mapai and Ahdut HaAvoda.

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.jafi.org.il/education/jafi75/timeline5b.html#1 1961 timeline
  2. https://www.knesset.gov.il/history/eng/eng_hist5_s.htm Factional and Government Make-Up of the Fifth Knesset