(Medinat Yisra'el / State of Israel)

NEW GOVERNMENT SINCE 07 MARCH 2001 The government is formed by the Likud, Labour, Israel B'Aliya, Israel Beiteinu, National Union and Shas.

	Ariel Sharon - Prime Minister Born : in Kfar Malal in the Sharon valley, ten miles from Tel Aviv in 1928 Education/Profession : Graduated from high school in Tel Aviv. Topics studied, agriculture, politics and military affairs. 1952 Studied Middle East history at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. 1957 started a study of military theory at Staff College in Camberley , England. 1966 Completed Law degree at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Party : Likud Political carrer : 1973-74 Member of the Knesset. 1974-75 Accepted senior position in Reserve Army and six months later Sharon was appointed Defence Adviser to Prime Minister Rabin. 1976 Sharon formed the Peace Zion Party `Shlomzion'. 1977-81 Elected member of Knesset and joined the Likud alliance.1981-83 Minister of Defence in Begin's Government. 1983-84 Sharon demoted to Minister without portfolio, following the investigation into the Sabra and Chatila massacre. The Kahan Commission of inquiry into the massacre found Sharon indirectly responsible, and called for his resignation. 1984-90 Minister of Industry and Trade in Likud Government. 1990-92 Minister for Construction and Housing.
	Shimon Peres -Minister of Foreign Affairs Born : in 1923 in Belorussia and immigrated with his family in 1934. Education/Profession : He studied at the Ben Shemen Agricultural School, and was one of the founders of Kibbutz Alumot in the Jordan Valley. Studied at the New York School for Social Research and Harvard University-1949. Party : (Labour) Political Career : Peres is a former Vice-President of the Socialist International; former chairman of the Labor Party and an architect of the 1994 Oslo Accords, for which he was awarded (with Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat) the Nobel Peace Prize. In 1948 was appointed head of the naval services.n 1949, he headed the Defense Ministry's procurement delegation to the United States. Appointed Deputy Director-General of the Ministry of Defense (1952-53), and later Director-General (1953-59). A Member of Knesset since 1959, and served as Deputy Minister of Defense (1959-65). In 1965 he left the Mapai Labor Party and was elected Secretary General of Rafi (the Israel Workers' List), which later merged with Mapai to form the Israel Labor Party.Minister of Immigrant Absorption (1969), and later served as Minister of Transport and Communications (1970-74). In 1974 he was appointed Minister of Information and later Minister of Defense (1974-77).Prime Minister (1984-86), and then as Vice Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs (1986-88).(1988-90), Peres was Vice Premier and Minister of Finance. In 1990-92, he was leader of the opposition in the Knesset. In July 1992, Peres was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs.In 1995, following the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, he assumed the positions of Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, until the general elections held in May 1996.From 1996-1999 he served as a member of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.Shimon Peres served as Minister of Regional Cooperation from July 1999 until March 2001. n March 2001, he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister. Also : First Deputy Prime Minister
	Eliyahu Yishai - Minister of Interior Born : in Jerusalem in 1962. Education/Profession : Studied at Yeshivat Hanegev and Yeshivat Porat Yosef and the IDF. Party : (Shas) Political career : Member of the Jerusalem Municipal Council (1991), Secretary-General of the Shas party (1993-1994) and Director General of El Hama'ayan, the Shas-affiliated educational institution (1995-1996).Elected to the Knesset in 1996 and served as Minister of Labor and Social Affairs from June 1996-July 1999.Minister of Labor and Social Affairs from July 1999 until his resignation in July 2000.In March 2001 Eli Yishai was appointed Interior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister. Also : Deputy Prime Minister
	Binyamin (Fouad) Ben Eliezer - Minister of Defence Born : in Iraq in 1936 and immigrated to Israel in 1949. Education/Profession : Graduated from the IDF Command and Staff College and the Israel National Defense College Served in the Israel Defense Forces as a career officer, serving as a commander in the Six-Day War (1967)and the Yom Kippur War (1973). In 1977 he was appointed Commanding Officer in Southern Lebanon. Military Governor of Judea and Samaria (1978-81) and as Government Coordinator of Activities in the Administered Areas (1983-84). Party : (Labour) Political career : In 1984 Ben-Eliezer was elected to the Knesset. served on the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee (1984-92, 1996-99); Labor and Social Welfare Committee (1984-1988); and House Committee (1974-1988). Minister of Construction and Housing from 1992-1996.July 1999 he was appointed Minister of Communications and Deputy Prime Minister, and in August 2000 was also assigned the Construction and Housing portfolio, serving in these positions until March 2001. In March 2001, appointed Minister of Defense.
	Silvan Shalom - Minister of Finance Born : in Tunisia in 1958 Education/Profession : holds a degrees in Economics (B.A.) and Accounting (C.P.A.) from Ben-Gurion University, as well as a law degree (L.L.B.) and an M.A. in Public Policy from Tel Aviv University. A journalist by profession.1990 Director-General of the Ministry of Energy 1990-1992 Chairman of the Board of the Israel Electric Company 1992-1993 Deputy Chairman of the Public Council of Youth Exchange Party : (Likud) Political career : 1992 Elected to the Knesset.1992-1997 Member of the Knesset Committee on Economic Affairs; Finance; State Control; Status of Women , Chairman of the Knesset Committee on Energy; Sub-committee on Capital Markets; 1997-1998 Deputy Minister of Defense ; 1998-1999 Minister of Science (until July) ; 1999-2001 Member Knesset Foreign Affairs & Defense Committee; Education and Culture Committee; Joint Committee for the Defense Budget; Special Legislative Committee for Not Renewing the Emergency Situation. In March 2001, appointed Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister Also : Deputy prime minister
	Uzi Landau - Minister of Public Security Born : 1943 in Haifa Education/Profession : holds Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees from the Technion in Haifa. Analyst by profession.Director-General of the Ministry of Transport. Lecturer in the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa Member of the Boards of El-Al Israel Airlines, Israel Port Authority and Israel Airport Authority ; Member of the Board of the Society for the Protection of Nature Member of the Board of Si'ah Vasig - Israel Debating Society Party : (Likud) Political career : Since 1984 he has been a Member of Knesset. Member, Economic Affairs Committee; State Control Committee; Immigration & Absorption Committee; Chairman, Sub-committee for Soviet Jewry.Chairman, Defense Budget Sub-committee; Member, Foreign Affairs & Defense Committee; Constitution, Law & Justice Committee; Chairman, Knesset Delegation to the European Parliament ; Chairman, Likud's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee; Member, Israeli Delegation to the Madrid Peace Conference ; Member,Knesset Delegation to the Council of Europe; Chairman, Likud's Policy Committee. In March 2001, Uzi Landau was appointed Minister of Public Security.
	Limor Livnat - Minister of Education Born : in 1950 in Haifa Education/Profession : holds a B.A.degree from Tel-Aviv University, with professional experience in advertising and public relations. Party : (Likud) Political career : Member of Knesset since 1992, and served as a member of the Knesset Education and Culture Committee, as well as the Labor and Social Affairs Committee. She also chaired the Knesset Committee for the Advancement of Women (1993-94), the Sub-Committee on Women's Representation, and the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry into the murder of women by their spouses (1995). Vice-chairperson of the World Likud Movement and headed the Likud Information Committee.Served as Minister of Communications from June 1996 to July 1999.In March 2001 was appointed Minister of Education.
	Meir Sheetrit - Minister of Justice Born : in 1948 in Morocco and immigrated to Israel in 1957. Education/Profession : holds B.A. and M.A. degrees from Bar-Ilan University, and studied towards a Ph.D. degree.Served as Mayor of Yavneh (1974-1987) and as Treasurer of the Jewish Agency (1988-1992). Party : (Likud) Political career : first elected to the Knesset in 1981.Member, Education & Culture Committee; Constitution, Law & Justice Committee; Member, Finance Committee; Defense Budget Sub-Committee ; member of House Committee; Committee on the Status of Women ; Deputy Speaker ; Knesset Coalition Leader; Chairman, Israel-Korea Parliamentary Friendship League ; member of Anti-Drug Abuse Committee. Served as Minister of Finance from February-July 1999. In March 2001, appointed Minister of Justice.
	Dalia Itzik - Minister of Trade and Industry Born : in Jerusalem in 1952 Education/Profession : B.A. in Literature and History from the Hebrew University and a Teacher's Diploma from the Efrata Teachers Seminary in Jerusalem. She received a Law Degree from the Interdisciplina Center in Herzliya. A teacher by profession. Former Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem in charge of Education. She was chairperson of the Legislative Panel of the Labor Party, a member of the Labor Party Central Committee, and a member of the Board of Governors of the Israel Broadcasting Authority and the boards of the Jerusalem Theater and Gerard Behar Center Party : (Labour) Politcal career : Elected to the Knesset in 1992. Served on the Knesset Finance Committee (1992-96); the Education and Culture Committee (1992-99), which she chaired from March 1995 to June 1996; and the Committee on the Status of Women (1992-99). She also served as chairperson of the Special Committee for Research and Scientific Technological Development (July 1997-June 1999). Minister of the Environment from July 1999 until March 2001. In March 2001, she was appointed Minister of Industry and Trade.
	Shlomo Benizri -Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Born : in Haifa in 1951 Education/Profession : Served in the IDF and was ordained a rabbi at the Or Hachaim Talmudic College in Jerusalem. He lectures on Judaism and is the head of a Talmudic college. Party : (Shas) Political career : Elected to the Knesset in 1992.From 1992-96 he was a member of the Finance Committee and the Anti-Drug Abuse Committee.From 1996-99 he served as Deputy Minister of Health. Minister of Health from July 1999 until his resignation in July 2000.In March 2001, appointed Minister of Labor and Social Affairs
	Shalom Simhon - Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Born : in Israel in 1956 Education/Profession : He holds a B.A.degree in Social Work. He has held various public positions, among them: Secretary-General of the Moshavim Movement (1993); Chairman, Administrative Council of Tnuva (until 1996); Secretary, Young Guard of the Moshavim Movement; Member, Council of the Israel Land Administration; Chairman, Moshavim Pension Fund; Secretary-General of the Agricultural Center Party : (Labour) Political Career : First elected to the Knesset in 1996.erved on the Knesset Finance Committee; Economics Committee; and the Committee for Foreign Workers. (1999) he was Chairman of the Knesset Finance Committee. In March 2001, appointed Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.
	Avigdor Lieberman - Minister for Infrastructure Born : in 1958 in the USSR and immigrated to Israel in 1978. Education/Profession : Holds a B.A. in Social Sciences from the Hebrew at the University of Jerusalem.Secretary of the National Workers' Union in Jerusalem; Chairman, Board of Directors of Information Industries; Member, Board of Directors of Economic Corporation of Jerusalem (1983-1988); Director of the Likud Movement (1993-1996); and Director-General Prime Minister's Office (1996-1997). Party : (Israel Beiteinu) Political career : Elected to the Knesset in 1999.Member of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.In March 2001, Avigdor Lieberman was appointed Minister of National Infrastructures
	Natan Sharansky -Minister of Housing and Construction Born : in 1948 in the Ukraine Education/Profession : Graduated in Computer Sciences from the Physical Technical Institute in Moscow. In 1973, he applied for an exit visa to Israel but was denied for "security" reasons. He continued to engage in underground Zionist activities until his arrest by the Soviet authorities in 1977. An international campaign calling for Sharansky's release waswaged by his wife Avital in conjunction with organizations around the world, culminating in his release on February 11,1986. He arrived in Israel that same night. Party : (Israel B'Aliya) Political career : He is the founder and chairman of the Yisrael B'Aliya party.n 1988, he was elected President of the newly created Zionist Forum. Minister of Industry and Trade from June 1996-1999. In March 2001, Natan Sharansky was appointed Minister of Housing and Construction and Deputy Prime Minister. Also : Deputy Prime Minister
	Tzahi Hanegbi - Minister of Environment Born : in Jerusalem in 1957 Education/Profession : From 1974-77, he served in an IDF paratroopers unit. Hanegbi holds a B.A. from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in international relations and law. President of the National Union of Israeli Students (1980-82), advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (1984-86), and bureau director in the Prime Minister's Office (1986-88). Party : (Likud) Political Pareer : A Member of Knesset since 1988.member of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, the Committee on Constitution, Law and Justice, the Knesset House Committee, the Commmittee on Labor and Social Welfare,and the Committee on Education and Culture. (1992-96) head of the Knesset Economics Affairs Committee in rotation, and as member of the Committee on Constitution, Law and Justice. In June 1996, he was appointed Minister of Health, which position he held until November 1996. In September 1996 he was appointed Acting Minister of Justice, and in November 1996, Minister of Justice, serving until July 1999. In March 2001 he was apointed Minister of the Environment.
	Reuven Rivlin - Minister of Communications Born : in Jerusalem in 1939 Education/Profession : A lawyer by profession, he holds an L.L.B. degree from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.Rivlin served as Legal Adviser, Chairman and team manager of the Betar Jerusalem Sports Association. He is a former member of the Board of Trustees fo the Khan Theater and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. Party : (Likud) Political career : A Knesset Member since 1988 : Knesset Committee; Foreign Affairs and Defense; Constitution, Law and Justice; State Control; Anti-Drug Abuse; Education and Culture; Advancement of the Status of Women. He also was a member of the Committee for Appointing Judges; the Committee for the Examination of the Maccabia Bridge Disaster; the Parliamentary Inquiry Committee on the Continuing Financial Crisis of the Local Governments; and the Parliamentary Inquiry Committee on Violence in Sports.In March 2001, appointed Minister of Communications.
	Ephraim Sneh -Minister of Transportation Born : in 1944 and raised in Tel Aviv Education/Profession : Graduation from the Tel Aviv Medical school, returned to the IDF as medical officer of the Paratrooper Corps, where he served throughout the Yom Kippur War. Medical officer specialist in internal medicine. From 1978 to 1980 Sneh served as Commander of an IDFelite unit. In 1981 he was appointed Commander of Israel's Security Zone in Southern Lebanon.From 1985-87 Sneh served as Head of the Civil Administration in the West Bank. Party : (Labour) Political Career : Since January 1988 Ephraim Sneh has been actively involved in the Israel Labour Party. In 1992 he was elected to the Knesset and served as a member of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. Minister of Health from June 1993 until 1996. From 1996-1999 he was a Member of Knesset and served on the State Audit Committee.In August 1999 he was appointed Deputy Minister of Defense. March 2001 : minister of transportation.
	Rehavam Zeevi - Minister of Tourism Born : in Jerusalem in 1926 Education/Profession : Former career army officer, Ze'evi graduated from the US Army Command and General Staff College. Party : (National Union) Political Career : Knesset Member since 1988.Head of the Moledet party.Served on the Knesset, Foreign Affairs and Defense, Education and Culture, and State Control Committees.From February 1991 until Janaury 1992, he served as Minister without Portfolio. In March 2001, Rehavam Ze'evi was appointed Minister of Tourism.
	Nissim Dahan - Minister of Health Born : in Morocco in 1954 and immigrated to Israel in 1955. Education/Profession : Studies at Porat Yossef Talmudic College.director of the Organizations and Institutions Department of the Ministry of Religious Affairs; and for three years was a member of the Jerusalem Development Authority. Party : (Shas) Political career : A Knesset Member since 1996, and has served on the Finance, Economics, and Foreign Affairs & Defense Committees. From August 1999 until July 2000, Dahan served as Deputy Minister of Finance. In March 2001, appointed Minister of Health.
not avalaible	Asher Ohana - Minister of Religious Affairs Born : Education/Profession : Party : (Shas)
	Eli Suissa -Minister for Jerusalem Affairs Born : in Morocco in 1956 and immigrated to Israel that same year. Education/Profession : Completed his army service in the Golani Brigade and served as Army Chaplain of the IDF Northern Command.Suissa received his rabbinical ordination from Yeshivat Kfar Hassidim. Party : (Shas) Political career : He joined Shas shortly after its founding. He served as the District Commissioner (Jerusalem) of the Ministry of Interior.Minister of the Interior from 1996 until July 1999. He also served in rotation as Minister of Religious Affairs. Minister of National Infrastructures from July 1999 until his resignation in July 2000.In March 2001, appointed Minister without Portfolio, responsible for Jerusalem
	Matan Vilnai - Minister of Science, Sport and Culture Born : in Jerusalem in 1944 Education/Profession : Holds a B.A. degree in history from Tel-Aviv University. Vilnai had a distinguished military career, serving in the IDF for more than 30 years. In 1998, he was involved in economic affairs and chaired the Public Committee for Violence Reduction in the Israeli schools Party : (Labour) Political career : In 1999 he joined the One Israel party and was elected to the Knesset. In August 1999, Matan Vilnai was appointed Minister of Science, Culture and Sport. He was reappointed to this post in March 2001.
	Yuli Edelstein - Deputy Minister of Absorption Born : 1958 in the Former USSR Education/Profession : Teacher's Training Institute, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Educator. Party : (Israel B'Aliya) Political career : Knesset Member since 1996. Functions in Fifteenth Knesset : Member, Internal Affairs and Environment Committee ; Committee for Immigration, Absorption, and the Diaspora ; The Committee for the Advancement of the Status of Women ; Parliamentary Inquiry Committee for the Location and Restitution of Property of Holocaust Victims ; 27th Government : Minister of Immigrant Absorption. Note : Sharon will keep portfolio, giving Edelstein control of ministry
	Danny Naveh - Minister without portolio with responsiblity for parliamentary relations Born : in Israel in 1960. Education/Profession : holds an L.L.B. degree from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.Advisor to Minister of Defense and Foreign Minister, Moshe Arens and Government Secretary to Prime Minister Netanyahu. Party : (Likud) Political career : Elected to the Knesset in 1999.served on the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, the Committee for the Advancement of the Status of the Child and the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.In March 2001 he was appointed Minister without Portfolio, responsible for coordination between the government and the Knesset.
	Salah Tarif - Minister without portolio with responsiblity for parliamentary relations Born : in 1954 in the Druze village of Julis in the Galilee. Education/Profession : Served in the IDF in parachute and tank units, and holds the rank of Captain (Res.). He holds a B.A. degree from Haifa University.member of the Labour Party Central Committee. He served as Deputy Chairman of the Haifa University Student Association, Deputy National Chairman of the Bnei Brith Youth Movement, Mayor of Julis, and Chairman of the Board of Druze and Circassian Mayors. Party : (Labour) Political career : Knesset Member since 1992. He served a member of the Internal Affairs and Environment Committee, the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee.Until 1995 he served as Deputy Speaker of the Knesset.Chairman of the Knesset Committee, and a member of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, the Special Legislative Committee for Not Renewing the Emergency Situation, and the Joint Committee for the Defense Budget. From November 1995 until June 1996, Tarif served as Deputy Minister of the Interior.In March 2001, Salah Tarif was appointed Minister without Portfolio, to become the first non-Jewish minister in an Israeli government.
	Raanan Cohen - Minister without portolio Born : In Iraq in 1941 and immigrated to Israel in 1951. Education/Profession : Holds a B.A. degree in History, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Middle Eastern Studies from Tel Aviv University.Counsellor in the Hanoar Haoved Vehalomed youth movement and Secretary of the Young Guard of the Labour Party in Bnei Brak (1961-1970). He served as Chairman of the Arab and Druze Branch of the Labour Party (1975-1986) and as Chairman of the Election Branch of the Labour Party (1986-1992), as well as Chairman, the Movement for Integration of the Discharged Soldier (1990). Party : (Labour) Political career : Member of Knesset since 1988, serving on the Knesset, the Finance, the Foreign Affairs and Defense, and State Control Committees and Chairman of the Labor parliamentary group.From August 2000 until March 2001 he served as Minister of Labor and Social Welfare. In March 2001, Ra'anan Cohen was appointed Minister without Portfolio
	Tzipi Livni - Minister for Regional Cooperation Born : in Israel in 1958 Education/Profession : Attorney by profession, she holds an L.L.B. degree from Bar Ilan University. Livni was an employee of the Mossad (1980-1984) and Director of the Registrar of Government Corporations. Party : (Likud) Political career : Elected to the Knesset in 1999.Member of the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, and the Committee for the Advancement of the Status of Women.In March 2001, was appointed Minister for Regional Cooperation.