Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Olmert: I'll appoint welfare minister soon
Prime minister vows to hand over welfare portfolio to another minister in near future
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
said Wednesday that he intends to hand over the welfare portfolio to another minister in the near future. Olmert currently serves as welfare minister.
During a conference of the National Insurance council that was held at the Prime Minister's Office, Olmert said: "There's no doubt that a welfare minister should be appointed, and this will happen very soon."
Ever since Zevulun Orlev resigned his post in 2004, Israel has not had a welfare minister, despite the many dire socioeconomic problems plaguing the country.
During his speech at the conference, Olmert said that NIS 3.8 billion (roughly USD 890 million) have been allocated to welfare needs in the 2007 national budget.
Minister for Jerusalem Affairs Jacob Edery told Ynet that the subject was critical, and that he will "continue to fight until a welfare minister is appointed."
Last Thursday, the Movement for Quality Government petitioned the High Court of Justice, asking that it instruct the prime minister to appoint a welfare minister, "In light of the Welfare Ministry's failure to function, the damage to public trust and the improbability of the decision not to appoint a welfare minister for over two years."
Additionally, the petitioners asked that the High Court issue an injunction ordering Attorney General Menachem Mazuz to explain why he is not acting toward appointing a welfare minister and why he hasn't instructed the PM to do so.
Ronny Sofer contributed to the report
