Fifth government of Israel
# Fifth government of Israel

The fifth government of Israel was formed by Moshe Sharett during the second Knesset on 26 January 1954, and was the first government not led by David Ben-Gurion. Sharett kept the same coalition partners as during the fourth government, i.e. Mapai, the General Zionists, the Progressive Party, Mizrachi, Hapoel HaMizrachi, the Democratic List for Israeli Arabs, Progress and Work and Agriculture and Development.

The only changes to the previous government were Sharett taking over as PM, Pinhas Lavon as Minister of Defense, the addition of Zalman Aran as a Minister without Portfolio and the dropping of the two Mizrachi and Hapoel HaMizrachi Deputy Ministerial posts.

Ben-Gurion returned to the government in February 1955, replacing Lavon following the former's resignation over the Lavon Affair.

The government fell when Sharett resigned on 29 June 1955, when the General Zionists refused to abstain from voting on a motion of no-confidence brought by Herut and Maki over the government's position on the trial of Malkiel Gruenwald, who had accused Israel Kastzner of collaborating with the Nazis.

The Cabinet :

| Position | Person | Party |
| - | - | - |
| Prime Minister Minister of Foreign Affairs | Moshe Sharett | Mapai |
| Minister of Agriculture | Peretz Naftali | Mapai |
| Minister of Defense | Pinhas Lavon (until 21 February 1955) David Ben-Gurion (after 21 February 1955) | Mapai Mapai |
| Minister of Development | Dov Yosef | Mapai |
| Minister of Education and Culture | Ben-Zion Dinor | Not an MK |
| Minister of Finance | Levi Eshkol | Mapai |
| Minister of Health | Yosef Serlin | General Zionists |
| Minister of Internal Affairs | Israel Rokah | General Zionists |
| Minister of Justice | Pinchas Rosen | Progressive Party |
| Minister of Labour | Golda Meir | Mapai |
| Minister of Police | Bechor-Shalom Sheetrit | Mapai |
| Minister of Postal Services | Yosef Burg | Hapoel HaMizrachi |
| Minister of Religions Minister of Welfare | Haim-Moshe Shapira | Hapoel HaMizrachi |
| Minister of Trade and Industry | Peretz Bernstein | General Zionists |
| Minister of Transportation | Yosef Sapir | General Zionists |
| Minister without Portfolio | Zalman Aran | Mapai |
| Deputy Minister of Education and Culture | Kalman Kahana | Poalei Agudat Yisrael |
| Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry | Zalman Suzayiv | General Zionists |
