Jerusalem Affairs and Heritage Minister of Israel Jerusalem Affairs and Heritage Minister of Israel The Minister of Jerusalem Affairs and Heritage is an occasional portfolio in the Israeli cabinet. It was first established under the government of Yitzhak Shamir on 27 November 1990, with Avraham Verdiger serving as deputy minister, although Avner Shaki had served as a Minister without Portfolio responsible for Jerusalem Affairs since 1988. However, the post was scrapped by Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin (who was also the portfolio holder) on 31 December 1992. It was resurrected in 2001 in Ariel Sharon's government. In 2005 the role reverted to being the responsibility of a Minister
Prime Minister of Israel in power until 1992. Rabin became prime minister for the second time when he led Labour to victory in the 1992 elections. After his assassination on 4 November 1995, Peres took over as prime minister. During the thirteenth Knesset (1992–1996) it was decided to hold a separate ballot for prime minister modeled after American presidential elections. This system was instituted in part because the Israeli electoral system makes it all but impossible for one party to win a majority. While only two parties—Mapai/Labour and Likud—had ever led governments, the large number of parties or factions in a typical Knesset usually