Cabinet of Israel

Cabinet of Israel
Cabinet name	Cabinet of Israel
Cabinet type	Council of Ministers
Jurisdiction	State of Israel
Caption	Emblem of Israel
Date formed	1949
State head	President of Israel
Government head	Prime Minister of Israel
Current number	32
Political party	Likud, Religious Zionist Party, Shas, United Torah Judaism, Otzma Yehudit
Opposition party	Yesh Atid, National Unity, Yisrael Beiteinu, Labor Party, Meretz
Election	2022 Israeli legislative election
Last election	2022 Israeli legislative election
Legislature status	Coalition majority
Budget	State budget of Israel
Url	[https://www.gov.il/en/departments/government Official Website]

Contents

History
Formation and role
Current cabinet
List of cabinets
Powers and functions
See also

Cabinet of Israel. The Cabinet of Israel, formally known as the Government of Israel, is the primary executive authority of the State of Israel. It is headed by the Prime Minister of Israel and composed of ministers chosen from the Knesset, Israel's unicameral legislature. The cabinet is responsible for administering both internal and foreign affairs, subject to the confidence of the Knesset.

History

The first provisional government was formed in 1948 by David Ben-Gurion following the Israeli Declaration of Independence. This body governed during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War and was succeeded by the first permanent cabinet after the 1949 Israeli legislative election. Throughout its history, the cabinet has been shaped by periods of Labor Zionism dominance, the rise of the Likud under Menachem Begin after the 1977 Israeli legislative election, and numerous coalition governments. Key historical cabinets include those during the Six-Day War under Levi Eshkol, the Yom Kippur War under Golda Meir, and the cabinets that oversaw peace treaties like the Camp David Accords and the Israel–Jordan peace treaty.

Formation and role

A new cabinet is formed following Elections in Israel, when the President of Israel assigns the task to a Knesset member, usually the leader of the largest party. The Prime Minister-designate must then present a list of ministers and a Basic Law: The Government-mandated guideline document to the Knesset for a vote of confidence. The cabinet operates on the principle of collective responsibility and its ministers oversee specific government ministries, such as the Ministry of Defense or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The cabinet's tenure is concurrent with the Knesset's term, typically four years, but it can fall earlier due to a motion of no confidence, resignation, or the prime minister's death.

Current cabinet

The thirty-seventh government of Israel, also known as the Sixth Netanyahu government, was sworn in on December 29, 2022, following the 2022 Israeli legislative election. It is a coalition led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of the Likud party. Key coalition partners include the Religious Zionist Party, Shas, United Torah Judaism, and Otzma Yehudit. Notable ministers include Yoav Gallant as Minister of Defense, Israel Katz as Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Bezalel Smotrich who holds the Finance Ministry. This cabinet has pursued policies focused on judicial reform and security matters related to Gaza and Hezbollah.

List of cabinets

Since 1949, Israel has had 37 cabinets, reflecting its proportional representation system which often results in unstable coalitions. The longest-serving prime minister is Benjamin Netanyahu, who has headed multiple cabinets since 1996. Other prime ministers who formed several cabinets include David Ben-Gurion, Yitzhak Rabin, Shimon Peres, and Ariel Sharon. Some cabinets have been short-lived, such as the Twenty-sixth government under Ehud Barak which lasted less than two years, while others, like the Twenty-ninth government under Ehud Olmert, served nearly a full term. A complete chronological list is maintained by the Knesset and the Prime Minister's Office (Israel).

Powers and functions

The cabinet exercises supreme executive power, deriving its authority from Basic Laws of Israel. It is responsible for implementing laws passed by the Knesset, formulating foreign policy, and directing the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Police. The cabinet declares war, as it did at the start of the Yom Kippur War, and can enact military orders in occupied territories. It also prepares the annual State budget of Israel, which requires Knesset approval. Decisions are made in weekly meetings, often in the presence of senior officials from the Mossad, Shin Bet, and Ministry of Finance. The cabinet can also declare a state of emergency, granting it expanded powers.