Bill to expand cabinet passes final vote

Netanyahu’s Knesset bill allowing him to appoint more than 18 ministers — currently the limit — to his cabinet, becomes law after the government approves the third reading of the measure by a slim majority of 61-59, with MKs voting along coalition-opposition lines.

Netanyahu has said he seeks to increase the cabinet by two ministers and four deputy ministers. An amendment to a constitutional law (passed in the last government) that capped the number of government ministers at 18, and outlawed the institution of ministers without portfolio, has prevented him from doing so.

Likud members will be competing for at least 12 portfolios, among them the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Public Security, Communications, Culture and Sports, Immigration and Absorption, Intelligence, National Infrastructure, Energy and Water, Tourism, Transportation and Road Safety, Welfare and Social Services, Strategic Affairs and Home Front Defense.