Netanyahu removes Party leader Shas from ministries

The prime minister’s government held its first cabinet meeting after Israel’s Supreme Court ruled on January 18 that Deri, who was appointed interior and health minister, could not become minister due to a “conviction for tax crimes.” .

At the meeting, which Deri was also present at, Netanyahu said: “I am sorry to say that I have to remove him from his ministerial post.” saying.

Expressing that he decided to appoint Deri as a minister based on his knowledge, experience and sense of responsibility, Netanyahu said the Supreme Court’s decision was regrettable and ignored the will of the people.

In his speech, Netanyahu singled out Deri, saying that he would “try to find a legal way in which he can continue to contribute to the state.”

On the other hand, on the “Walla” website, which is published in Hebrew, it was reported that the government plans to appoint Health Ministers and Interior Ministries for a period of 3 months, from the Shas Party, on Tuesday, January 1. 24

In the news, it was indicated that despite the Supreme Court decision, which almost completely blocked Deri’s return to government, the Shas Party leader is seeking legal options that would allow him to become a minister again.

JUDICIAL REFORM

Justice Minister Yariv Levin announced on January 5 that they were planning a law that would limit the powers of the Supreme Court and reduce the influence of the judiciary in the selection of judges.

Moves by the Netanyahu-led coalition government to transfer some of the powers of the judiciary to Parliament sparked tensions between the government and the Israeli judiciary, especially the Supreme Court.

Israel’s Supreme Court, which acts as the country’s highest judicial authority, has the power to annul laws passed by the Assembly on the grounds that they violate “fundamental laws” accepted as a draft Constitution.

The Netanyahu government, in its announced court ruling, stated that the Supreme Court would be deprived of its authority to strike down laws passed by Parliament.

The judiciary crisis deepened when Israel’s Supreme Court ruled on January 18 that Shas leader Arya Deri, who held multiple ministerial posts in Netanyahu’s government, could not be included in the cabinet “because he was convicted of tax crimes”.

On January 14 and 21, tens of thousands of people protested against the Netanyahu government’s plan to enact laws aimed at restricting the powers of the judiciary. (AA)