1. The Director of Nativ, Jewish Agency and World Zionist Organization Chairman Ze’ev Bielski, Immigrant Absorption Minister Yaakov Edery, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Minister Yitzhak Herzog, who is responsible for Diaspora affairs, and other senior officials, briefed the Cabinet on Jews, and those who are eligible to emigrate, from the former USSR.  The scope of immigration in recent years, the situation of the Jews remaining in the former USSR, and their relation to Judaism and Israel, were among the topics discussed.
 
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said: “Today’s discussion in the wake of very worrisome data.  These are Jews who have the right to immigrate to the State of Israel.  This population consists of approximately 880,000 people, in addition to 660,000, who emigrated between 1989 and 2007 to various western countries.  The data shows an 80% assimilation rate.  Less than 10% of this population is involved in Jewish activities whatsoever.  And to our chagrin, there are also 38,000 citizens who emigrated back to the form Soviet Union in recent years.  This data indicates a very significant concern that within a generation the Jewish community will disappear from these countries.  These communities will simply disappear, and the lack of involvement and deficiency in provided solutions by various bodies is likely to be a factor. We cannot allow this to occur before our very eyes without us providing proper answers for which we are here today.  Inaction now is liable to lead to the loss of the third largest Jewish community in the world.  We must find ways to increase solidarity with the state among the children of these people and increase their desire to be part of building up the country.”
 
2. Prime Minister Olmert, in the name of the Government, wished Israel's hundreds of thousands of pupils a safe and pleasant vacation, while asking all citizens, including pupils, to pay special attention on the roads this summer.  The Prime Minister would like to remind that: "In the last year this Government decided to invests billions of additional NIS in the education system as part of the New Horizon reform (http://tinyurl.com/5eejlp) led, in my opinion, very successfully and impressively by Education Minister Yuli Tamir."
 
3. The Cabinet discussed the appointment of a Government committee of inquiry into the conduct of the law enforcement authorities in the case against Haim Ramon.  Following a discussion, which lasted several hours, the Government decided as follows: “The Government requests that State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss examine – in accordance with his authority – the issue of wiretaps in criminal investigations, including methods of implementation, their use and the use of their products, and complaints about this issue in recent years.”  
 
4. The Cabinet decided to appoint MK Eli Aflalo as Minister of Immigrant Absorption and Minister Ruhama Avraham-Balila as Minister of Tourism.