Minister of Agriculture Ariel Sharon, who resigned his Knesset seat in 1974 in order to retain his senior command post in the army reserves, must now give up his military command as well. State Attorney Aharon Barak has ruled that a Cabinet minister can not simultaneously serve as an army officer since the Israeli army is subordinate to the civilian government.
Defense Minister Ezer Weizman accepted the ruling by the government’s legal advisor and has instructed the Chief of Staff to cancel Sharon’s commission. This appears to bring to an end, at least for the time being, one of the most brilliant and controversial military careers in Israel.
Sharon was one of the founders of Likud and was elected to the Knesset on its ticket but subsequently resigned to take a senior post in the reserves. As a result of his appointment to Begin’s Cabinet he will also have to relinquish control of his large farm. The Asher Committee ruled that Cabinet ministers can not own property or business that might conflict with the duties of their office and must turn them over to others, including relatives who are not next of kin.
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