Zvi Zrahiya

At one point almost a third of the current Knesset was either a minister or deputy minister. Beyond the high-profile grandees lurk a swath of ministers without portfolios. What do they actually achieve, and is this really the most effective form of governance?

Although Shapira did not name names in the report he presumably was referring to a team providing political advice to the head of the party, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Decision came as the banking industry exerted immense pressure onlawmakers to reject the bill, which would reduce commissions by some NIS 100 million.

The bill is scheduled to go before the Finance Committee on Tuesday.

Measures place limits on how much the big food retail chains can expand, put restrictions on relations between manufacturers and retailers and give the treasury more authority to impose price transparency.

A bill aimed at helping consumers stuck in long-term contracts gets watered down after the owner of the Club Hotel chain met personally with MKs and hired a lobbying firm to advocate on his behalf.

Former Communications Minister Moshe Kahlon, darling of the Likud party, announces a surprise break from political life, leaving his fellow politicians surprised and speculating.

Leaders also told to avoid using state-funded flights for politicking.

TheMarker examines what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud promised and what the party and its coalition partners actually delivered.

Netanyahu's competitor will be looking to shift the public agenda from national defense to social issues, but can they make serious headway with this strategy?

Pay hike for the prime minster and his cabinet, as well as for the state comptroller and the governor of the central bank, based on the rate of inflation for 2012.

The Ministerial Committee for Legislation will be requested to approve eight pieces of legislation on Sunday.

Finance Ministry officials expect the legislation, once passed, to lead to the payment of more than NIS 3 billion in taxes on the trapped profits next year.

Move would be part of campaign to rein in increases in housing prices.

Lawmakers pull the right strings to find alternative employment.

Netanyahu will still attempt to secure passage of 2013 budget if he thinks he has a majority.

'We will not allow the government to wreck the collective bargaining agreements it signed with us,' one Histadrut official said.

Law for the Protection of Literature and Authors has passed its first Knesset reading and is currently being prepared in a committee.

Finance Ministry wants a new round of budget cuts, but also seeks to add NIS 130 to Defense Ministry's budget.

Rivlin's proposal comes amid disarray in budget-making process, as OMtries to enlist support in his coalition for a package of deep spending cuts and higher taxes.

Elections may not have been officially called yet, but that isn't stopping politicians from revving up their fundraising machines.

PM withdrew request to make changes in his investments portfolio for fear his move would be misinterpreted and connected to Iran. Which indeed it has been.

The finance minister said unemployment fell in past three years, and was criticized both inside and out of the governing coalition.

The request, amending instructions he put into place when he took office in April 2009, was approved in principle on August 15 by a committee headed by retired Judge Ezra Kama.

Despite rising prices, new PR campaign - launched by the government with public funding - is telling Israelis that they are better off, and is raising hackles.