1. The Cabinet, in accordance with Article 33A of Basic Law: The Government , to authorize Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to empower the Director-General of the Atomic Energy Commission, the Director-General of the Center for Nuclear Research at Nahal Sorek and the Director-General of the Center for Nuclear Research in the Negev to dismiss employees that have letters-of-appointment according to the 1959 Civil Service Law (Appointments) and that are at least two grades below director-general.  (The foregoing does not detract from Prime Minister Sharon’s right to dismiss employees from the aforesaid units.)

A worker who receives such a dismissal notice is entitled to appeal to Prime Minister Sharon within 15 days of receiving the notice; workers shall be informed of this right along with their dismissal.

2. The Cabinet decided to authorize the Defense Ministry National Emergency Board (NEB) to allow the Bank of Israel to operate as a designated financial authority in order to carry out necessary transactions stemming from its decisions.  The Bank of Israel Supervisor of Banks will be a member of the NEB.

3. The Cabinet decided to appoint a ministerial committee – to be chaired by Minister Tzahi Hanegbi – to discuss the issue of the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem.  The other members of the committee are: Public Security Minister Gideon Ezra, Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, Tourism Minister Avraham Hirchson and National Infrastructures Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer; representatives of Attorney-General Meni Mazuz, the Prime Minister’s Diplomatic Adviser Shalom Turgeman and the Foreign Ministry shall also participate.

4. The Cabinet decided, in accordance with Article 28 of Basic Law: The President  to authorize President Moshe Katsav’s state visits to Italy and the Vatican