Ehud Olmert reshuffled his Cabinet.
The Israeli prime minister appointed longtime confidant Roni Bar-On as finance minister Wednesday. Bar-On’s portfolio in Interior was assumed by Meir Sheetrit, the construction minister. That portfolio was taken over by Ze’ev Boim, who surrendered the Immigration Ministry to Ya’acov Edri.
Haim Ramon, a former justice minister who had to step down after it emerged that he had forced a kiss on a woman soldier during last year’s Lebanon war, was named Olmert’s new vice premier.
The Cabinet also gained another woman. Ruhama Avraham, who was made minister in charge of parliamentary contacts.