The twenty-fifth government of Israel was formed by Yitzhak Rabin of the Labor Party on 13 July 1992, after the party's victory in the June elections. The coalition also contained the new Meretz party (an alliance of Ratz, Mapam, and Shinui) and Shas, and held 62 of the 120 seats in the Knesset. The government was also supported, but not joined, by Hadash and the Arab Democratic Party, which held an additional five seats between them.
Shas left the government on 14 September 1993,Factional and Government Make-Up of the Thirteenth Knesset Knesset website but the coalition was joined by the new Yiud faction (a three-member breakaway from Tzomet) on 9 January 1995.
This government significantly reformed Israel's economy, as well as its education and healthcare systems. Privatization of business increased, moving away from the country's traditionally socialized economy, which had been largely set up by the forerunners to the Labour Party. The scheme was described by Moshe Arens as a "privatization frenzy". In 1993, it set up the "Yozma" program, under which attractive tax incentives were offered to foreign venture capital funds that invested in Israel and promised to double any investment with government funding. As a result, foreign venture capital funds invested heavily in the growing Israeli high-tech industry, contributing to Israel's economic growth and status as a world leader in high-tech. In 1995, the National Health Insurance Law was passed. The law created Israel's universal health care system, moving away from the traditionally Histadrut-dominated health insurance system. Doctors' wages were also raised by 50%. Education spending was raised by 70%, with new colleges being built in Israel's peripheral areas, and teachers' wages rising by one-fifth. The government also launched new public works projects such as the Cross-Israel Highway and an expansion of Ben Gurion Airport.
Rabin was assassinated on 4 November 1995, with Shimon Peres taking over as Interim Prime Minister until forming the twenty-sixth government on 22 November.
Cabinet members PositionPersonFaction in Knesset (Party)Prime MinisterYitzhak Rabin (until 4 November 1995)Labor PartyShimon Peres (interim from 5 November)Labor PartyMinister of AgricultureYa'akov TzurNot an MK (Labor Party)Minister of CommunicationsMoshe Shahal (until 7 June 1993)Labor PartyShulamit AloniMeretz (Ratz)Minister of DefenseYitzhak Rabin (until 4 November 1995)Labor PartyShimon Peres (from 5 November)Labor PartyMinister of Economics and PlanningShimon Shetreet (until 18 July 1995)Labor PartyYossi Beilin (from 18 July 1995)Labor PartyMinister of Education and Culture 1Shulamit Aloni (until 11 May 1993)Meretz (Ratz)Yitzhak Rabin (11 May 1993 - 7 June 1993)Labor PartyAmnon Rubinstein (from 30 May 1994)Meretz (Shinui)Minister of Energy and InfrastructureAmnon Rubinstein (until 7 June 1993)Meretz (Shinui)Moshe Shahal (7 June 1993 - 9 January 1995)Labor PartyGonen Segev (from 9 January 1995)YiudMinister of the EnvironmentOra Namir (until 31 December 1992)Labor PartyYossi Sarid (from 31 December 1992)Meretz (Ratz)Minister of FinanceAvraham ShochatLabor PartyMinister of Foreign AffairsShimon PeresLabor PartyMinister of HealthHaim Ramon (until 8 February 1994)Labor PartyYitzhak Rabin (8 February - 1 June 1994)Labor PartyEfraim Sneh (from 1 June 1994)Labor PartyMinister of Housing and ConstructionBinyamin Ben-EliezerLabor PartyMinister of Immigrant AbsorptionYair TzabanMeretz (Mapam)Minister of Industry and TradeMichael HarishLabor PartyMinister of Internal AffairsAryeh Deri (until 11 May 1993)ShasAryeh Deri (7 June - 14 September 1993)ShasYitzhak Rabin (14 September 1993 - 27 February 1995)Labor PartyUzi Baram (27 February - 7 June 1995)Labor PartyDavid Libai (19 June - 18 July 1995)Labor PartyEhud Barak (from 18 July 1995)Not an MK (Labor Party)Minister of Jerusalem AffairsYitzhak Rabin (until 31 December 1992)Labor PartyMinister of JusticeDavid LibaiLabor PartyMinister of Labour and Social WelfareYitzhak Rabin (until 31 December 1992)Labor PartyOra Namir (from 31 December 1992)Labor PartyMinister of PoliceMoshe ShahalLabor PartyMinister of Religious AffairsYitzhak Rabin (until 27 January 1995)Labor PartyShimon Shetreet (from 27 January 1995)Labor PartyMinister of Science and TechnologyAmnon Rubinstein (until 31 December 1992)Meretz (Shinui)Shimon Shetreet (31 December 1992 - 7 June 1993)Labor PartyShulamit Aloni (from 7 June 1993)Meretz (Ratz)Minister of TourismUzi BaramLabor PartyMinister of TransportationYisrael KessarLabor PartyMinister without PortfolioShulamit Aloni (11 May - 7 June 1993)Meretz (Ratz)Aryeh Deri (11 May - 7 June 1993)ShasEli Ben-Menachem (until 8 April 1993)Labor PartyDeputy Minister of AgricultureWalid Haj YahiaMeretz (Mapam)Deputy Minister of DefenseMordechai Gur (until 16 July 1995)2Labor PartyDeputy Minister of Education and CultureMoshe Maya (until 12 September 1993)ShasMicha GoldmanLabor PartyDeputy Minister of FinanceRafael Pinhasi (until 31 December 1992)ShasDeputy Minister of Foreign AffairsYossi Beilin (until 17 July 1995)Labor PartyEli Dayan (from 24 July 1995)Labor PartyDeputy Minister of HealthNawaf MassalhaLabor PartyDeputy Minister of Housing and ConstructionAryeh Gamliel (until 9 September 1993)ShasRan Cohen (until 31 December 1992)Meretz (Ratz)Eli Ben-Menachem (from 8 April 1993)Labor PartyAlex Goldfarb (from 2 January 1995)YiudDeputy Minister of Industry and TradeMasha LubelskyLabor PartyDeputy Minister of Religious AffairsShas
1 When Rubinstein was appointed to the post in 1994, it was renamed the Minister of Education, Culture and Sport.
2 Died in office.
References
External links Eleventh Knesset: Government 25 Knesset website