Herzog accepts welfare portfolio

Tourism Minister Isaac Herzog (Labor-Meimad) announced his agreement to concede the tourism portfolio in exchange for the welfare portfolio during a press conference in Tel Aviv Thursday afternoon.

In the meantime, Israel Our Home announced that it had accepted the tourism portfolio and agreed to head the Knesset’s Finance Committee, as per an agreement with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

In addition, Labor MK Raleb Majadele will receive the Science, Technology, Culture, and Sports portfolio, making him Israel’s first Arab minister.

Herzog said that the prime minister approached him about accepting the welfare portfolio, after which the two met discreetly to discuss the issue. Herzog decided to accept the portfolio after his demands for an increased budget were met.

Labor Chairman Amir Peretz did not know about Olmert and Herzog’s meetings, but when he was briefed Thursday morning, he congratulated Herzog on his appointment.

Regarding his plans for the ministry, Herzog said, “There hasn’t been a minister in the welfare ministry for three years. It is a significant challenge to rehabilitate such an important ministry, and to lead it. My intention is to bring about a decrease in poverty and narrower gaps.”

'A national mission'

“This is not my private mission; it’s a national mission,” Herzog concluded.

Although Herzog once said it was his dream to serve as welfare minister, he did not accept the portfolio right away. Just last week Herzog gave several interviews to the press in which he said he was not willing to give up the tourism portfolio.

Since the beginning of Olmert's government, the Welfare Ministry has functioned without a minister. In fact, since MK Zevulun Orlev resigned from the position in November 2004, no other minister was appointed the portfolio.

According to fellow Kadima member Minister Jacob Edery, Olmert intended on appointing a welfare minister within the week.