First Sharett Cabinet | |
|---|---|
 5th Cabinet of Israel | |
 | |
| Date formed | 26 January 1954 |
| Date dissolved | 29 June 1955 |
| People and organisations | |
| Head of state | Yitzhak Ben-Zvi |
| Head of government | Moshe Sharett |
| Member parties | Mapai General Zionists Progressive Party Hapoel HaMizrachi Poalei Agudat Yisrael Democratic List for Israeli Arabs Progress and Work Agriculture and Development |
| Status in legislature | coalition |
| Opposition leader | Meir Ya'ari |
| History | |
| Legislature term | 2nd Knesset |
| Predecessor | 4th cabinet of Israel |
| Successor | 6th cabinet of Israel |
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.