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.
Fifth government of IsraelPortfolioMinisterPartyPrime MinisterMinister of Foreign AffairsMoshe SharettMapaiMinister of AgriculturePeretz NaftaliMapaiMinister of DefensePinhas Lavon (26 January 1954 – 21 February 1955)MapaiDavid Ben-Gurion (21 February – 29 June 1955)Minister of DevelopmentDov YosefMapaiMinister of Education and CultureBen-Zion DinorNot an MKMinister of FinanceLevi EshkolMapaiMinister of HealthYosef SerlinGeneral ZionistsMinister of Internal AffairsIsrael RokahGeneral ZionistsMinister of JusticePinchas RosenProgressive PartyMinister of LabourGolda MeirMapaiMinister of PoliceBechor-Shalom SheetritMapaiMinister of Postal ServicesYosef BurgHapoel HaMizrachiMinister of ReligionsMinister of WelfareHaim-Moshe ShapiraHapoel HaMizrachiMinister of Trade and IndustryPeretz BernsteinGeneral ZionistsMinister of TransportationYosef SapirGeneral ZionistsMinister without PortfolioZalman AranMapaiDeputy Minister of ReligionsZorach Warhaftig (27 January – 24 May 1954, 15 June 1954 - 29 June 1955)Hapoel HaMizrachiDeputy Minister of AgricultureYosef EfratiMapaiDeputy Minister of Education and CultureKalman KahanaPoalei Agudat YisraelDeputy Minister of Trade and IndustryZalman SuzayivGeneral Zionists
External links Fifth Government of Israel Knesset website