The 31st Government headed by Ehud Olmert, May 4, 2006

Presented before the Knesset and received its approval on May 4, 2006 by a majority vote of 65 for, 49 votes against and 4 were missing from the vote.

On the day of its establishment, the Government is comprised of the following coalition of parties:

- Kadima
- Labour
- Shas
- The Pensioners Party 

On the day of its establishment, the Government consisted of the following:
  
Ehud Olmert – Prime Minister and Minister of Welfare
Shimon Peres – Vice Prime Minister and Minister for the Development of the Negev and the Galilee, Responsible for Regional Economic Development
Tzipi Livni – Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs
Amir Peretz – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense
Eli Yishai – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor
Shaul Mofaz – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transportation and Road Safety
Yaakov Edri – Minister (Liaison between the Government and the Knesset)
Ariel Atias – Minister of Communications
Rafi Eitan – Minister Responsible for Pensioners
Zeev Boim – Minister of Immigrant Absorption
Binyamin Ben-Eliezer – Minister of National Infrastructures
Yaakov Ben-Yizri– Minister of Health
Roni Bar-On – Minister of the Interior
Avi Dichter – Minister of Internal Security
Avraham Hirschson – Minister of Finance
Yitzhak Herzog – Minister of Tourism
Eitan Cabel – Minister (Responsible for the Israel Broadcasting Authority)
Yitzhak Cohen – Minister (Responsible for Religious Councils)
Meshulam Nahari – Minister
Gideon Ezra – Minister of the Environment
Ofir Pines-Paz – Minister of Science and Technology
Haim Ramon – Minister of Justice
Meir Sheetrit – Minister of Construction & Housing (Responsible for the Israel Lands Authority)
Shalom Simhon – Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development
Yuli Tamir – Minister of Education, Culture & Sport

On 7.5.06, the Government resolved to change the name of the Ministry for the Development of the Negev and Galilee to the Ministry of the Vice Prime Minister.

In addition, the Government further resolved to shift the subjects of culture and sport to the Ministry of Science and Technology, thereby changing the names of the Ministries to the Ministry of Science, Technology, Culture and Sport, and the Ministry of Education.
 
On June 25, 2006, the title of the Ministry of Environment was changed to the Ministry of Environmental Protection.  Accordingly, the Minister’s title was also changed.
 
On July 9, 2006, the title of the Ministry of Science, Technology, Culture and Sport was changed to the Ministry of Science, Culture and Sport.  Accordingly, the Minister’s title was also changed.
 
On August 20, 2006, at 8:50 pm, Haim Ramon, Minister of Justice, presented a letter of resignation to the Prime Minister.  The resignation went into effect on August 22, 2006 at 8:50 pm.
 
The Government resolved in Resolution No. 401 of August 23, 2006, that Minister Meir Shitreet would serve as Acting Minister of Justice.

In Resolution No. 602 of 30.10.06, the Government resolved to appoint Avigdor Leiberman Deputy Prime Minister appointed with formulating Israel's policy regarding the strategic threat to Israel by coordinating the various intelligence and security forces involved in the matter.  He was also put in charge of the "Nativ" Coordinating Office.  The appointment was approved by the Knesset on 30.10.06.
 
Following the appointment of Avigdor Leiberman as minister, Minister Ofir Paz-Pines submitted his letter of resignation on 30.10.06 at 5 p.m.  The resignation took effect on 1.11.06.
 
In Resolution No. 638 of 5.11.06, the Government resolved that Minister Yuli Tamir would serve as Acting Minister of Science, Culture and Sport in addition to her role as Minister of Education.

On 23.11.06, Minister Meir Sheetrit completed his tenure as Acting Minister of Justice (in accordance with the law).

At the end of this period, namely starting 24.11.06, no Minister of Justice was appointed, and in the absence of such an appointment (dictated by law and by the opinion of the Attorney General), the Prime Minister holds the Justice portfolio.

The Government appointed Minister Yaakov Edri to head the Ministerial Committee for Legislative Affairs and Law Enforcement in Government Resolution No. 740 of 24.11.06 for one meeting, held on 26.11.06.

The Government resolved in Resolution No. 752 of 29.11.06 that Minister Tzipi Livni would serve as Minister of Justice in addition to her role as Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.  The appointment was approved by the Knesset that same day.

On 3.12.06, the Government resolved in Resolution No. 802 that Minister Avigdor Lieberman would serve as Minister for Strategic Affairs in addition to his role as Deputy Prime Minister, resulting from the establishment of the Ministry for Strategic Affairs which was established that same day.  The appointment was approved by the Knesset on 4.12.06.

In Resolution No. 1097 of 28.1.07, the Government resolved to appoint Member of Knesset Ghaleb Majadle Minister without Portfolio.  The appointment was approved by the Knesset on 29.1.07.

In Resolution No. 1142 of 6.2.07, the Government resolved to appoint Prof. Daniel Friedman Minister of Justice in place of Minister Tzipi Livni, who will continue to serve as Minister of Foreign Affairs.  The appointment was approved by the Knesset on 7.2.07.

The Government resolved in Resolution No. 1265 of 25.2.07 as follows:

1. Minister Yitzhak Herzog will serve as Minister of Social Welfare (replacing the Prime Minister).

2.  Minister Raleb Majadele will serve as Minister of Science, Culture and Sport.

3. To change the name of the Ministry of Social Welfare to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services.

4. Minister Yitzhak Herzog will be responsible for, inter alia: Diaspora Affairs, Social Affairs and the Struggle Against Anti-Semitism.
 
The aforementioned changes were approved by the Knesset on 21.3.07.
 
The Government resolved in Resolution No. 1307 to appoint MK Yizhak Aharonovitch Minister of Tourism (replacing Yitzhak Herzog).  The appointment was approved by the Knesset on 21.3.07.
 
On 22.4.07, Minister Avraham Hirchson informed the Prime Minister that he was temporarily unable to fulfill his duties as Minister of Finance.  That same day, at the Cabinet Meeting, the Prime Minister announced (in Article No. 1582) that, in accordance with the law, he would fill the role of Minister of Finance.
 
On 1.5.07, the interim report of the Committee for Examining the Events of the Lebanon Campaign 2006 (the Winograd Committee) was published.  Following publication of the report, Minister Eitan Cabel submitted his letter of resignation from the Government on 2.5.07 at 15:40.  The resignation took effect on 4.5.07 at 15:40.

On 13.6.07, the Knesset elected Shimon Peres to be the ninth President of the State of Israel.  On the same day, he ceased serving as a minister in the Government, in accordance with Article 22(c) of the Basic Law: Government and Article 7 of the Basic Law: the Knesset.

Therefore, on 13.6.07, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert also became the Acting Minister charged with the Vice Prime Minister’s Office.

On 15.6.07, in Resolution No. 1807, the Government resolved that Ehud Barak join the Government as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense.

On that same day (15.6.07), Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Amir Peretz, announced his intention to resign from the Government.  His letter of resignation reached the Prime Minister on Saturday, 16.6.07, at 18:30.  The resignation took effect on Monday, 18.6.07, at 18:30.

On Monday, 18.6.07, an announcement was submitted to the Knesset regarding the resignation of Minister Amir Peretz and Ehud Barak joining the Government as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense.  The Knesset approved the joining of Ehud Barak, and he took up the position that same day.

In Resolution No. 1887 of 2.7.07, the Government resolved to appoint MK Matan Vilna’i Deputy Minister of Defense.  A message was passed on to the Knesset that same day.

On the morning of 1.7.07, Minister Avraham Hirschson tendered his letter of resignation from the Government to the Prime Minister.  The resignation took effect on 3.7.07, 48 hours after submission of the letter.

On 4.7.07, in Resolution No. 1888, the Government resolved as follows:

- To appoint MK Haim Ramon Vice Prime Minister

- To appoint MK Ruhama Avraham Minister responsible for the liaison between the Government and the Knesset (replacing Minister Ya’akov Edri)

- To change the name of the “Office of the Vice Prime Minister” to the “Ministry for the Development of the Negev and Galilee”

- Minister Roni Bar-On will serve as Minister of Finance in place of the Prime Minister, who served as Acting Minister of Finance from the day Minister Hirschson declared himself incapacitated (22.4.07)

- Minister Meir Sheetrit will serve as Minister of the Interior, in place of Minister Roni Bar-On

- Minister Ze’ev Boim will serve as Minister of Housing and Construction, in place of Minister Meir Sheetrit


- Minister Ya’akov Edri will serve as Minister of Immigrant Absorption, in place of Minister Ze’ev Boim, as well as Minister of Development of the Negev and Galilee

In Resolution No. 1889 of 4.7.07, the Government resolved to authorize Minister Itzhak Herzog, who serves as Minister of Social Affairs and Social Services, to serve as the Minister responsible for implementation of the Broadcast Authority Law.

It is hereby resolved according to Government Resolution No. 2068 of 22.7.2007 to create a new office to be named "Pensioners Affairs Office", to be headed by Minister Rafi Eitan.

It is hereby resolved according to Government Resolution No. 2369 of 16.9.2007 to appoint Member of Knesset Amihai Eilon as Minister without portfolio. The position was confirmed in the Knesset on 24.9.2007

On January 16, 2008, the Minister for Strategic Affairs, Avigdor Lieberman, announced his resignation from the Government.

On January 20, 2008. Minister of Tourism, Mr. Yitzhak Aharonowitch (of the party of Minister Avigdor Lieberman) submitted his resignation.  The resignation went into effect on January 22, 2008.