I24NEWS
Bills advance to enable ministries for Smotrich, Deri
December 15, 2022

Bills to allow religious lawmakers Bezalel Smotrich and Aryeh Deri passed early Friday on their first readings in the Knesset, Israel’s parliament. The bills amend Israel’s Basic Laws, which act as the country’s constitution, aimed at enabling the lawmakers to take office as desired ministers as part of coalition agreements with prime minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu. While these bills have raised protest among opposition leaders, the 63-52 vote foreshadows the right-wing and religious ministers getting what they want. Politicians convicted in the past seven years cannot currently serve as ministers. Deri, the head of Israel’s Sephardic religious Shas party, earlier this year admitted to minor tax offenses in exchange for a suspended sentence of one year…READ MORE

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