Likud MK David (Dudi) Amsalem will become Minister in the Justice Ministry, the Regional Cooperation Minister and the Ministerial Liaison to the Knesset, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Tuesday, ending a political saga that has lasted since the coalition negotiations began soon after the November 1 election.
Current Ministerial Liaison to the Knesset Yoav Kisch filed his resignation from the position minutes after the announcement in order to make way for Amsalem.
Amsalem, who received the fourth-most votes in the Likud's primary election in August, initially demanded to become either justice minister or Knesset speaker. He received neither, and publicly criticized Netanyahu. The issue came to a head earlier this week when Amsalem and fellow Likud MK Danny Danon threatened not to support a law proposal that would enable ousted Shas chairman MK Aryeh Deri to return to the Knesset unless one of them became a minister.
Current agreement was offered weeks ago
While the current agreement was offered weeks ago, Justice Minister Yariv Levin initially refused to divulge any of his authorities to Amsalem. However, Levin eventually agreed to give Amsalem control over a number of branches in the ministry that are not related to Levin's proposed reforms of Israel's judicial system.
Amsalem will be the government's 33rd minister.
After the announcement, Amsalem's office stated that the decision was made during a "cordial and positive" meeting in which the two agreed "to continue the successful and practical cooperation that accompanied the two in recent years with the aim of promoting burning social issues."
Yesh Atid ridiculed the agreement on Tuesday evening, stating "It is important to have two justice ministers in order to destroy the justice system, but a health minister and an interior minister are not mandatory. A government in disorder and the citizens will pay."
Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana welcomed the decision, "This is his natural place. Successes in the challenges in the justice ministry and the ministerial liaison to the Knesset are essential to the success of the three branches of authority and I have no doubt that he will be capable for them. Looking forward to working together Dudi!"