Ehud Olmert was sworn in as prime minister of Israel on Thursday evening, after the Knesset (Parliament) plenum voted to approve his new government, Haaretz reported. Olmert officially takes the title of prime minister, ending his stint as interim premier following Ariel Sharon's illness.
The vote was carried by 65 to 49.
The new cabinet was also sworn in at a special ceremony, marking a return to government by the ultra-Orthodox Shas and the debut of the Pensioners Party. The Labor party is the senior partner in this new coalition cabinet.
Meanwhile, Israeli troops shot dead a Palestinian taxi driver in the West Bank on Thursday, Palestinian medics and witnesses said. Occupation troops opened fire on Zakhariah Daraghmeh, 37, at the Ba'adan checkpoint east of Nablus.
Palestinians said Daraghmeh was trying to reach his village of Tubas, close to Nablus.
© 2006 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
