(Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) Israeli minister MK Benny Begin (Likud) resigned from the country’s government just 17 days after being inducted, in a move that was needed to maintain the size of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s 20-minister cabinet following Likud MK Gilad Erdan’s appointment as strategic affairs and public security minister last week. Begin, the son of former Prime Minister Menachem Begin, tendered his resignation to Netanyahu on Friday, May 29, but it was not announced until it came into effect 48 hours later. Begin, who had been named a minister without portfolio and a member of Israel’s diplomatic-security cabinet, will continue to serve as a Knesset member.

Netanyahu said he hoped to again include Begin in the government in the future.