The following is the Prime Minister’s statement at the opening of the Cabinet meeting:

On the night of Wednesday, July 7, 2004, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Yosef Lapid, Chairman of the Shinui Party, approached me with the request to relieve Minister Yosef Paritzky of his duty, based on news which broke in the media that same evening.

On Thursday, July 8, 2004, I received a letter from the Chairman of the Shinui faction, on the basis of which Shinui decided to approach me with the request to discharge Minister Yosef Paritzky.

After consulting with the Attorney General, I met this morning with Minister Paritzky, said goodbye to him, thanked him for his good work, for promoting various issues in his office and for the good ideas he presented.  Then, I informed Minister Paritzky that on the basis of the decision by the Shinui faction, and in accordance with Article 22(B) of the Basic Law: The Government, I was relieving him of his duties as Minister in the Government.