Uzi Baram stepped down as interior minister Tuesday. Baram announced in mid-May that he would be stepping down from the position in order to spend more time with his wife, who is suffering from cancer.
Baram, who will continue to serve as tourism minister, was appointed interior minister three months ago. The post had been vacant since fall 1993, when former Interior Minister Aryeh Deri of the fervently religious Shas Party was indicted on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of public trust.
Deri also stepped down from the post of religious affairs, which has since been filled by Economic Minister Shimon Shetreet.
On his last day at the Interior Ministry, Baram earmarked $1 million for paving new roads.
Israel Television quoted him as saying that he was certain that the former Israel Defense Force chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Ehud Barak, would replace him at the helm of the Interior Ministry.
Barak turned down the post in May, but Israeli media quoted him at the time as saying that if he joins the government, he would prefer doing so in mid- November.
Barak left the IDF earlier this year. According to regulations, he cannot take on a government position until mid-June.
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