Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held his first cabinet meeting since returning to power on Sunday, urging unity in the face of the various crises the nation is facing.
Netanyahu vowed that his government would get right to meaningful work on the economic crisis, reforming the Israeli education system and bolstering Israel's deterrence against regional threats.
He also promised that a full-fledged policy for dealing with the Israeli-Palestinian peace process would be set within weeks.
Closing the meeting, Netanyahu cancelled construction of a new $160 million official residence for Israel's prime minister. Netanyahu was a harsh critic of plans for the lavish complex when they were introduced and approved by former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.