Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appointed as member of Knesset David Amsalem, of Moroccan origin, as the Minister in Charge of the Atomic Energy Commission.
The Atomic Energy Commission was established in 1952 and is under the Prime Minister's and his office's authority. It was considered another committee of government work.
However, it became more critical when Israel began building the nuclear reactor in Dimona under the then-director general of the Defense Ministry, Shimon Peres.
The committee is responsible for the Israeli Nuclear Research Center in the Soreq Valley and the Dimona reactor. Its chairman status was elevated to the head of Mossad and Shin Bet.
Officially, the Atomic Energy Commission advises the government on nuclear research and development issues and represents Israel in international institutions, such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna.
However, in reality, it leads Israel's nuclear military activity and is reportedly responsible for Israel's alleged stockpile of atomic weapons.
Amsalem is the son of a family of Moroccan immigrants who arrived in Israel in 1958.
He was born in Jerusalem two years later. Since his early youth, he has been active in the Likud party and tried to be elected to the municipality, but failed. He moved to live in the nearby Maale Adumim settlement.
Amsalem is considered a "firebrand" in the Likud party and is known for his harsh criticism of opponents and his comrades in the coalition and the party.
He even criticized Netanyahu for not including him in the government.
Netanyahu's aides held negotiations with Amsalem and discussed appointing him as Speaker of the Knesset or Minister of Justice.
At that time, he told his supporters who had gathered outside his home that Netanyahu was ungrateful.
Amsalem accused Netanyahu of specifically targeting him because he is a Sephardic Jew. "You don't humiliate me. You don't humiliate us, Sephardim."
Netanyahu has urged his advisers to appease Amsalem. It took three months to convince him to join the government last March. He became the regional cooperation minister, a second minister in the Justice Ministry, and the minister in charge of liaising between the government and the Knesset.
