Knesset authorizes politically-tinged name changes for ministries

The Knesset approved name changes for three ministries on Wednesday, two of which are rife with political controversy.The Ministry of Energy and Water is now called the National Infrastructure, Energy and Water Ministry. The Transportation, National Infrastructure and Road Safety Ministry’s name was changed to Transportation and Road Safety Ministry.The change, signifying the transfer of responsibilities for infrastructure issues, was announced in August. Transportation Minister Israel Katz interpreted it as a punishment for voting against releasing Palestinian terrorists from prison.Energy and Water Minister Silvan Shalom, who picked up the “National Infrastructure” title, has a closer relationship with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu than Katz, and abstained from the prisoner release vote.The final ministry to change its name is the Immigration Absorption Ministry, which is now called the Immigration and Absorption Ministry.