New security council meets for first time, creates public security R&D unit.
By JPOST STAFF, HERB KEINON
The security cabinet is scheduled to hold its first meeting under the new government on Wednesday.
In addition to Olmert and Peretz, this forum is made up of Vice Premier Shimon Peres, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Finance Minister Avraham Hirchson, Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter, Justice Minister Haim Ramon, Pensioners Minister Rafi Eitan, Infrastructure Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, Industry and Trade Minister Eli Yishai, Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz, and Science and Technology, Culture and Sport Minister Ophir Paz-Pines.
The cabinet is expected to discuss a decision made some six months ago to transfer the responsibility for issuing travel warnings to the Foreign Ministry.
Travel warnings have been the prerogative of the National Security Council's antiterror unit, and the Foreign Ministry would have to build and train a staff and assemble the requisite intelligence networks before it could shoulder the responsibility for the warnings.
In addition to the issue of Israelis traveling abroad, the cabinet is scheduled to address security for a number of strategic sites, Israel Radio reported.