Thirty-second government of Israel

{{Short description|2009–13 government led by Benjamin Netanyahu}}

{{Infobox government cabinet

|cabinet_name = Netanyahu II cabinet

|cabinet_number = 32nd

|jurisdiction = Israel

|flag = Flag of Israel.svg

|flag_border = true

|image = Netanyahu official portrait.jpg

|date_formed = 31 March 2009

|date_dissolved = 18 March 2013

|government_head = Benjamin Netanyahu

|government_head_history =

|deputy_government_head = Silvan Shalom
Moshe Ya'alon
Ehud Barak
Avigdor Lieberman
Dan Meridor
Eli Yishai
Shaul Mofaz (from 8 May 2012 to 17 July 2012)

|state_head = Shimon Peres

|current_number =

|former_members_number =

|total_number =

|political_party = Likud
Yisrael Beiteinu
Shas
Labor (until 17 January 2011)
The Jewish Home
Independence (from 17 January 2011)
United Torah Judaism (from 1 April 2009)
Kadima (from 8 May 2012 to 17 July 2012)

|legislature_status = Grand Coalition (2009–2011)
Centre-right (2011–2013)

|opposition_party = Kadima

|opposition_leader = Shaul Mofaz

|election = Knesset elections, 2009

|last_election =

|legislature_term = 18th Knesset

|budget =

|previous = 31st

|successor = 33rd

}}

The Thirty-second government of Israel, also known as the Second Netanyahu Government,{{cite news|url=http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3695323,00.html |title=ynet הכנסת אישרה: ממשלת נתניהו יצאה לדרך - חדשות |newspaper=Ynet |publisher=Ynet.co.il |date= 31 March 2009|accessdate=2015-03-16|last1=מרנדה |first1=אמנון }} was the largest cabinet in the country's history, in terms of the number of ministers: initially containing 30 ministers and nine deputy ministers, it later added another deputy prime minister as of May 2012 until he resigned in July 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/130713 |title=Cabinet Missing Health Minister - Politics & Gov't - News - Arutz Sheva |publisher=Israelnationalnews.com |date=2009-01-04 |accessdate=2015-03-16}}

Formation

Following the 2009 Knesset elections, the new government was formed on 31 March 2009. It consisted of a coalition of Likud, Yisrael Beiteinu, Shas, the Labor and the Jewish Home. The parties formed a center-right coalition government.{{cite news|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2013/0123/Centrists-make-strong-show-in-Israel-tempering-Netanyahu|title=Centrists make strong show in Israel, tempering Netanyahu|author=Christa Case Bryant|newspaper=Christian Science Monitor|date=January 23, 2013}}

{{Infobox election

| election_name = Israeli government formation, February–March 2009

| country = Israel

| flag_year =

| type = presidential

| ongoing = no

| party_colour =

| previous_election =

| previous_year = 2006

| next_election =

| next_year = 2013

| election_date = 20 February–31 March 2009

| 1blank = Investiture vote - In favor

| 2blank = Investiture vote - Against

| 3blank = Investiture vote - Abstain

| image1 = 130x130px

| nominee1 = Benjamin Netanyahu

| party1 = Likud

| home_state1 =

| running_mate1 =

| states_carried1 =

| electoral_vote1 = 65

| percentage1 = 54.2%

| 1data1 = 69

| 2data1 = 45

| 3data1 =

| image2 = 130x130px

| nominee2 = Tzipi Livni

| party2 = Kadima

| home_state2 =

| running_mate2 =

| states_carried2 =

| electoral_vote2 = 28

| percentage2 = 23.3%

| map_image =

| map_size =

| map_caption =

| title = Prime Minister

| before_election = Ehud Olmert

| before_party = Kadima

| after_election = Benjamin Netanyahu

| after_party = Likud

}}

Changes since formation

On 1 April 2009, United Torah Judaism joined as well.

In January 2011, Labor Party leader Ehud Barak formed a breakaway party, Independence, which enabled him to maintain his loyal Labor's MK faction within Netanyahu's government, and prevented the departure of Labor party as a whole from Netanyahu's coalition-government. Labor previously threatened to force Barak to do so. After Barak's move, Netanyahu was able to maintain a majority of 66 MK (out 120 in the Knesset), previously having 74 MKs within his majority coalition.

On 8 May 2012, following weeks of speculation that early elections would be called, Netanyahu announced a new National Unity Coalition after striking a deal with Kadima head Shaul Mofaz bringing the coalition majority to 94 MKs.{{cite news|url=http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4226535,00.html|title=Mofar Won't Stay Alone. Soon: More Ministers from Kadima|publisher=Ynet.co.il|accessdate=2015-03-16}}

Kadima subsequently left the ruling coalition on 17 July due to a dispute over the Tal Law.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18870666|title=Kadima quits Israel government over conscription law|publisher=Bbc.co.uk|accessdate=2015-03-16}}

Basic policy guidelines

A paper presented to the Knesset's approval alongside the Government said that the Government would:{{cite web|url=http://www.pmo.gov.il/PMOEng/Government/Policy/|title=Government Policy|access-date=December 9, 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111105041443/http://www.pmo.gov.il/PMOEng/Government/Policy|archive-date=November 5, 2011}}

actively seek to fortify the national security and bestow personal security on its citizens while vigorously and determinedly fighting against violence and terror.
advance the political process and act to promote peace with all our neighbors, while preserving the security, historic and national interests of Israel.
advance a program to deal with the economic crisis and act to create economic conditions that will allow for sustainable growth, as well as create and maintain jobs in the economy.
strive for social justice by reducing social gaps and uncompromisingly fight against poverty through education, employment and an increase in assistance to the weaker segments of the population.
place the issue of immigration and immigrant absorption at the top of its list of priorities and will work vigorously to increase immigration from all countries of the world.
place education at the center of its list of national priorities and will act to advance reforms in the education system.
preserve the Jewish character of the State and the legacy of Israel, as well as honor the religions and traditions of members of other religions in the country in accordance with the values of the Declaration of Independence.
act to advance governmental reforms to improve stability and governability.
act to fortify the rule of law in Israel.
act to protect the environment in Israel, improve the quality of life for the residents of the country and increase Israel's participation in contributing to the global effort with regard to the climate and the environment.

Cabinet members

The cabinet had 30 members.

class="wikitable"
Portfolio ! Minister ! colspan=2\|Party
Prime Minister Minister of Economic Strategy Minister of Health Minister of Pensioner Affairs \|Benjamin Netanyahu \|Likud \|style="background:{{party color\|Likud}}\|
Vice Prime Minister Minister of Development of the Negev and Galilee Minister of Regional Development \|Silvan Shalom \|Likud \|style="background:{{party color\|Likud}}\|
Vice Prime Minister Minister of Strategic Affairs \|Moshe Ya'alon \|Likud \|style="background:{{party color\|Likud}}\|
Vice Prime Minister Minister without Portfolio \|Shaul Mofaz (09/05/2012 - 19/07/2012) \|Kadima \|style="background:{{party color\|Kadima}}\|
Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Defense \|Ehud Barak \|Israeli Labor Party, from 17/01/2011: Independence \|style="background:{{party color\|Israeli Labor Party}}\|
Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Foreign Affairs \|Avigdor Lieberman till 18/12/2012 \|Yisrael Beitenu \|style="background:{{party color\|Yisrael Beiteinu}}\|
Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Intelligence and Atomic Energy \|Dan Meridor \|Likud \|style="background:{{party color\|Likud}}\|
Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Internal Affairs \|Eli Yishai \|Shas \|style="background:{{party color\|Shas}}\|
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development \|Shalom Simhon till 19/01/2011 Orit Noked from 19/01/2011 \|Israeli Labor Party Independence \|style="background:{{party color\|Israeli Labor Party}}\|
Minister of Communications \|Moshe Kahlon \|Likud \|style="background:{{party color\|Likud}}\|
Minister of Culture and Sport \|Limor Livnat \|Likud \|style="background:{{party color\|Likud}}\|
Minister of Education \|Gideon Sa'ar \|Likud \|style="background:{{party color\|Likud}}\|
Minister of Energy and Water \|Uzi Landau \|Yisrael Beitenu \|style="background:{{party color\|Yisrael Beiteinu}}\|
Minister of Environmental Protection \|Gilad Erdan \|Likud \|style="background:{{party color\|Likud}}\|
Minister of Finance \|Yuval Steinitz \|Likud \|style="background:{{party color\|Likud}}\|
Minister for Home Front Defense \|Matan Vilnai till 15/08/2012 Avi Dichter from 16/0/2012 \|Israeli Labor Party, from 17/01/2011: Independence Independent (ex-Kadima) \|style="background:{{party color\|Israeli Labor Party}}\|
Minister of Housing and Construction \|Ariel Atias \|Shas \|style="background:{{party color\|Shas}}\|
Minister of Immigrant Absorption \|Sofa Landver \|Yisrael Beitenu \|style="background:{{party color\|Yisrael Beiteinu}}\|
Minister of Improvement of Government Services \|Michael Eitan \|Likud \|style="background:{{party color\|Likud}}\|
Minister of Industry, Trade, and Labour Minister of Minorities \|Binyamin Ben-Eliezer till 19/01/2011 Shalom Simhon from 19/01/2011 \|Israeli Labor Party Independence \|style="background:{{party color\|Israeli Labor Party}}\|
Minister of Information and Diaspora \|Yuli-Yoel Edelstein \|Likud \|style="background:{{party color\|Likud}}\|
Minister of Internal Security \|Yitzhak Aharonovich \|Yisrael Beitenu \|style="background:{{party color\|Yisrael Beiteinu}}\|
Minister of Justice \|Ya'akov Ne'eman \|Appointed{{cite news\|url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/he-has-failed-the-make-up-test-too-1.272058 \|title=He has failed the make-up test, too \|publisher=Haaretz.com \|accessdate=2015-03-16\|newspaper=Haaretz \|date=2009-03-13 }}
Minister of Religious Services \|Ya'akov Margi \|Shas \|style="background:{{party color\|Shas}}\|
Minister of Science and Technology \|Daniel Hershkowitz \|The Jewish Home \|style="background:{{party color\|The Jewish Home}}\|
Minister of Tourism \|Stas Misezhnikov \|Yisrael Beitenu \|style="background:{{party color\|Yisrael Beiteinu}}\|
Minister of Transportation, National Infrastructure and Road Safety \|Israel Katz \|Likud \|style="background:{{party color\|Likud}}\|
Minister of Welfare and Social Services \|Isaac Herzog till 19/01/2011 Moshe Kahlon from 19/01/2011 \|Israeli Labor Party Likud \|style="background:{{party color\|Israeli Labor Party}}\|
rowspan=3\|Minister without Portfolio \|Benny Begin \|Likud \|style="background:{{party color\|Likud}}\|
Meshulam Nahari \|Shas \|style="background:{{party color\|Shas}}\|
Yossi Peled till 29/09/2012 \|Likud \|style="background:{{party color\|Likud}}\|

class="wikitable"

Portfolio

! Minister

! colspan=2|Party

Prime Minister
Minister of Economic Strategy
Minister of Health
Minister of Pensioner Affairs

Thirty-second government of Israel

Formation

Changes since formation

Basic policy guidelines

Cabinet members

=Deputy Ministers=

References