Ninth government of Israel

The ninth government of Israel was formed by David Ben-Gurion on 17 December 1959 following the November 1959 elections. Ben-Gurion largely kept the same coalition partners as during the previous government (i.e. Mapai, the National Religious Party, Mapam, Ahdut HaAvoda, the Progressive Party and Agriculture and Development), and added the new Israeli Arab parties Progress and Development and Cooperation and Brotherhood.

The government collapsed when Ben-Gurion resigned on 31 January 1961, over a motion of no-confidence brought by Herut and the General Zionists following the publication of the findings of the Committee of Seven concerning the Lavon Affair. At the end of February Ben-Gurion informed PresidentYitzhak Ben-Zvi that he could not form a new government,[1] and new elections were called after the Knesset was dissolved in March.

Cabinet members

Ninth government of Israel
PortfolioMinisterParty
Prime MinisterMinister of DefenseDavid Ben-GurionMapai
Minister of AgricultureMoshe DayanMapai
Minister of DevelopmentMordechai BentovMapam
Minister of Education and CultureZalman Aran(17 December 1959 – 10 May 1960)Mapai
David Ben-Gurion (10 May – 3 August 1960)
Abba Eban(3 August 1960 – 2 November 1961)
Minister of FinanceLevi EshkolMapai
Minister of Foreign AffairsGolda MeirMapai
Minister of HealthIsrael BarzilaiMapam
Minister of Internal AffairsHaim-Moshe ShapiraNational Religious Party
Minister of JusticePinchas RosenProgressive Party
Minister of LabourGiora YoseftalMapai
Minister of PoliceBechor-Shalom SheetritMapai
Minister of Postal ServicesDavid Ben-Gurion (17 December 1959 – 5 July 1960)Mapai
Bechor-Shalom Sheetrit (5–18 July 1960)
Binyamin Mintz(18 July 1960 – 30 May 1961)1Religious Torah Front
Minister of ReligionsYa'akov Moshe Toledano(17 December 1959 – 15 October 1960)1Not an MK
David Ben-Gurion (15 October 1960 – 2 November 1961)Mapai
Minister of Trade and IndustryPinhas SapirMapai
Minister of WelfareYosef BurgNational Religious Party
Minister of TransportationYitzhak Ben-AharonAhdut HaAvoda
Minister without PortfolioAbba Eban (17 December 1959 – 3 August 1960)Mapai
Deputy Minister of DefenseShimon Peres(21 December 1959 – 2 November 1961)Mapai
Deputy Minister of Education and CultureAmi Assaf(28 December 1959 – 2 November 1961)Mapai
Deputy Minister of Internal AffairsShlomo-Yisrael Ben-Meir(28 December 1959 – 2 November 1961)National Religious Party

1 Died in office.

References

  1. 1961 timelineArchived 2008-12-03 at the Wayback Machine Jewish Agency for Israel