Tenth government of Israel

1961–63 government led by David Ben-Gurion
Eighth Ben-Gurion Cabinet

10th Cabinet of Israel
Date formed2 November 1961 (1961-11-02)
Date dissolved26 June 1963 (1963-06-26)
People and organisations
Head of stateYitzhak Ben-Zvi (until 23 April 1963)
Zalman Shazar (from 21 May 1963)
Head of governmentDavid Ben-Gurion
Member partiesMapai
National Religious Party
Ahdut HaAvoda
Poalei Agudat Yisrael
Cooperation and Brotherhood
Progress and Development
Status in legislatureCoalition
Opposition leaderMenachem Begin
History
Election(s)1961 Israeli legislative election
Legislature term(s)5th Knesset
Predecessor9th cabinet of Israel
Successor11th cabinet of Israel

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".[1] However, in reality he was annoyed at a perceived lack of support from his colleagues.[2]

Cabinet members

Position Person Party
Prime Minister
 David Ben-Gurion Mapai
Minister of Agriculture Moshe Dayan Mapai
Minister of Defense David Ben-Gurion Mapai
Minister of Development Giora Yoseftal (until 23 August 1962) 1 Mapai
Yosef Almogi (from 30 October 1962) Mapai
Minister of Education and Culture Abba Eban Mapai
Minister of Finance Levi Eshkol Mapai
Minister of Foreign Affairs Golda Meir Mapai
Minister of Health Haim-Moshe Shapira National Religious Party
Minister of Housing Giora Yoseftal (until 23 August 1962) 1 Mapai
Yosef Almogi (from 30 October 1962) Mapai
Minister of Internal Affairs Haim-Moshe Shapira National Religious Party
Minister of Justice Dov Yosef Not an MK 2
Minister of Labour Yigal Allon Mapai
Minister of Police Bechor-Shalom Sheetrit Mapai
Minister of Postal Services Eliyahu Sasson Not an MK 3
Minister of Religions Zerach Warhaftig National Religious Party
Minister of Trade and Industry Pinhas Sapir Mapai
Minister of Transportation Yitzhak Ben-Aharon (until 28 May 1962) Ahdut HaAvoda
Yisrael Bar-Yehuda (from 28 May 1962) Ahdut HaAvoda
Minister of Welfare Yosef Burg National Religious Party
Minister without Portfolio Yosef Almogi (until 30 October 1962) Mapai
Deputy Minister of Defense Shimon Peres Mapai
Deputy Minister of Education and Culture Ami Assaf (until 17 May 1963) 1 Mapai
Kalman Kahana (from 29 November 1961) Poalei Agudat Yisrael
Deputy Minister of Finance Yitzhak Coren (from 30 May 1962) Mapai
Deputy Minister of Health Yitzhak Rafael National Religious Party
Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Shlomo-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.

References

  1. ^ a b 1961 timeline Archived 2008-12-03 at the Wayback Machine Jewish Agency for Israel
  2. ^ Factional and Government Make-Up of the Fifth Knesset Knesset website

External links

  • Fifth Knesset: Government 10 Knesset website