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
Yitzhak Rafael the post in July 1963, serving until March 1965. He was re-elected in 1965 and 1969, and following Haim-Moshe Shapira's death in July 1970, became the leader of the NRP. He was re-elected again in 1973, and was appointed Minister of Religions by Golda Meir in March 1974. However, when Yitzhak Rabin formed a new government in June 1974 following Meir's resignation, the NRP were not included in the coalition and Rafael left the cabinet. When the party joined the coalition in October that year, Rafael was re-appointed Minister of Religions, serving until all NRP ministers were sacked in December