Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak named Shlomo Ben Ami as interim foreign minister following the resignation of David Levy last week, his office told AFP.
Ben Ami, a member of Barak's Labor party who is also public security minister, is one of the leading negotiators in the peace talks with the Palestinians.
Levy quit last week in protest at concessions he said Barak made to the Palestinians at the Camp David peace summit, particularly over the thorny issue of Jerusalem.
Barak has been without a coalition government or a parliamentary majority for a month after three right wing and religious parties quit on the eve of Camp David.
Ben Ami's appointment is only for three months. If Barak wishes to assign Ben Ami the post permanently he must recall parliament from its summer recess and put the appointment to a vote - OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (AFP)
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