Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday removed ultra-Orthodox rabbi Aryeh Deri from his posts as interior and health minister, following a Supreme Court ruling that ordered his departure from the government last week due to his multiple convictions for corruption.
“It is with great regret and regret that I am compelled to remove you from your position as a minister in government,” Netanyahu told Deri, who was interior and health minister and was convicted last year of tax evasion.
The Supreme Court’s decision “ignores the will of the people,” Netanyahu added during a cabinet meeting, according to a statement.
The prime minister, who returned to power in December at the hands of a right-wing, far-right and ultra-Orthodox coalition, has insisted he will seek a legal avenue for Deri to “contribute to the service of the state of Israel,” he insisted.
On Wednesday, the court invalidated the nomination of Deri, leader of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish Shas party, by a vote of 10 to 1. the second most important formation of the coalition who rules Israel. The Court found it “extremely unreasonable” to appoint him an officer.
The decision was branded an “injustice” by the leaders of the parties that make up the coalition.
“No court decision will prevent me from serving (my constituents),” Deri said in a statement Saturday.
He also said he would continue to promote the government’s agenda and attend regular meetings of coalition party leaders.
Tax fraud
Deri admitted last year to being guilty of a felony of tax fraud and was fined 180,000 shekels, the equivalent of about $50,000.
In late December, Israeli lawmakers hastily voted on a law, dubbed the “Deri law” by the press, which allowed a person convicted of a crime but not sentenced to prison to hold a ministerial portfolio.
The goal was to allow Deri to fill the portfolio he had said he would join Netanyahu’s ruling coalition, formed in December.
Deri said last year he would retire from politics following his conviction, but was eventually re-elected as an MP in the Nov. 1 legislature and appointed minister by Netanyahu.
According to the court judges, his appointment was “a serious contradiction with the fundamental principles of the rule of law”.
Thus, Deri, the most experienced member of the Netanyahu government, leaves his posts after only 26 days of having held them. The sacking will take effect in 48 hours and members of his Shas party should be appointed in his place.
Along with his long career as a minister, which began in 1988 in the Interior portfolio, Deri accumulates a long history of corruption, including a conviction and prison sentence in 2000 for accepting bribes and a tax fraud indictment in February 2022 .
In the latter trial he managed to avoid prison in exchange for accepting a plea deal that banned him from public office and she promised him to quit politics.
more protests
Israel’s new justice minister, Yariv Levin, announced this month a controversial reform of the judicial systemwhich includes a “repeal” clause under which Parliament can overturn a Supreme Court decision.
The reform, which will have to be presented to Parliament on a date to be set, asks strengthen the power of deputies to the detriment of the judges.
The project, in addition to other decisions or statements by the new government – the most right-wing in Israel’s history – has sparked strong protests in recent weeks.
Tens of thousands of Israelis demonstrated again on Saturday in Tel Aviv against the government’s plans, including Netanyahu’s predecessor Yair Lapid.
“Netanyahu is to appoint a full-time health minister and interior minister today,” he said in a video posted on Twitter Sunday.
“Citizens of Israel should not pay the price for this government’s corruption and disorder,” he added.
Source: AFP and EFE
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Source: Clarin
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.