in the 1965 elections he was voted into the knesset on mapam's list. after mapam merged into the alignment, he was re-elected in 1969. following the election, he became deputy speaker of the knesset, and in november 1972 was appointed deputy minister of immigrant absorption. although he lost his seat in the 1973 elections, he was appointed minister of immigrant absorption by golda meir when she formed the new government. he retained the portfolio when yitzhak rabin took over as prime minister, and was appointed minister of housing in january 1977. he lost both portfolios when menachem begin formed the next government in june that year.