The Knesset passed a law early Tuesday morning allowing leader of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party leader Aryeh Deri, who was previously convicted of tax fraud, to assume a ministerial role in the incoming government.
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Deri resigned from parliament as part of a plea deal earlier this year, avoiding legal proceedings that would prevent him from seeking future elections. He is now slated to become interior minister for a second time and in two years, finance minister in rotation with Religious Zionist Party leader Bezalel Smotrich.
In the early 2000s, Deri served a 22-months sentence after he was convicted of taking bribes while serving as interior minister.
At the same time on Tuesday, the Knesset passed a bill that would allow Smotrich to appoint an independent minister within the Defense Ministry to oversee construction in Judea and Samaria, particularly in Area C, which is under full Israeli civil and security control.
The bills are part of the incoming coalition's three-part legislative blitz, aimed at enabling the lawmakers to take office as desired ministers as part of coalition agreements with Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu. The third, and last, legislation, meant to grant some authority over the Israel Police to Otzma Yehudit Itamar Ben-Gvir, is expected to come for its final votes as early as Tuesday afternoon.
The fourth bill, aimed at grating some authority over the Israel Police to Otzma Yehudit Itamar Ben-Gvir, is expected to come for its final votes as early as Tuesday afternoon.
Meanwhile, Likud MK Yariv Levin is expected to announce his resignation as Knesset speaker on Tuesday. Levin, one of Netanyahu's closest associated, assumed the role temporarily two weeks ago to expedite the three crucial bills that would grant leaders of the bloc their coalition demands. He is expected to be appointed justice minister.
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