Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak on Sunday gave four of his ministers extra duties, taking over portfolios left vacant after a mass walkout from his government last month.
But Barak himself, facing his worst political crisis since taking office little more than a year ago, still holds the posts of prime minister, defense minister and now foreign minister following the resignation last week of David Levy.
He has lost 11 ministers, most of them angered at his peace policies and "concessions" to the Palestinians at the Camp David peace summit, and been left without a parliamentary majority, stoking calls for new elections.
On Sunday, he gave his close confidant Communications Minister Binyamin Ben Eliezer the housing portfolio previously held by the leader of the National Religious Party, the champion of Jewish settlers in the occupied territories.
Finance Minister Avraham Shohat takes on the infrastructure ministry previously headed by Eli Suissa of the powerful ultra-Orthodox Jewish party Shas.
Haim Ramon, a member of the cabinet without portfolio, was made interior minister, replacing Nathan Sharansky of the Russian immigrant party Israel B'Aliyah, while Justice Minister Yossi Beilin added culture to his responsibilities.
Barak plans to announce soon who will fill the other ministries, including health and labour, left empty following the departure of six ministers from Shas, the NRP and Israel B'Aliya on the eve of the Camp David summit, including health and labour.
In addition, three ministers with the left-wing Meretz party resigned in protest at the possible return of Shas, while Yitzhak Mordechai quit as transport minister in May after being charged with sexual assault - OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (AFP)
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