As Netanyahu is yet to name a foreign minister in his new government approved by the Knesset, Israeli parliament, earlier in May, the prime minister is holding the position himself.
The Knesset vote enabled Netanyahu to boost the number of his Likud Party members in the new government.
According to Haaretz, Netanyahu earlier in the day met with Nissim Ben-Shitrit, who previously held the position of foreign ministry's director general to inform him of his replacement.
Tzipi Hotovely, Israel's newly appointed deputy foreign minister, was originally told by Netanyahu that she would be in control of the foreign ministry, but Gold's appointment showed that he has reneged on the promise, the paper said.
Born in the United States, Gold has been promoting "defensible borders" for Israel, according to i24 news.
Gold has held several various positions under different Israeli governments, including as Netanyahu's political adviser during his first term in office (1996–1997). In 1997, Netanyahu appointed Gold as Israel's ambassador to the UN.
