Prime Minister / Defense Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is adding the title of Labor and Social Services (Welfare) Minister to his list of titles this week, following the resignation of Minister Haim Katz, who was recently charged with breach of trust and fraud. The resignation was effective Wednesday, although Katz remains a Likud Knesset member.
Netanyahu acquired the defense portfolio after the resignation of former Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beytenu party.
The additional portfolio brings the prime minister’s list technically to four; Netanyahu currently also officially acts as Minister of Health in order to spare Yaacov Litzman, a member of the Gerrer Hassidic sect – which proscribes participation as a leader in a Zionist government — the choice between keeping his political career and the approval of his Rebbe. Litzman serves instead as “Deputy” Health Minister.