Announcement due today for deputy minister reshuffling plan

New Interior Minister Arye Deri has asked for deputy minister Yaron Mazuz to be shifted out of the ministry, and he is expected to become a deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Office.

By GIL STERN STERN HOFFMAN
YARON MAZUZ. (photo credit: Courtesy)
YARON MAZUZ.
(photo credit: Courtesy)
Tourism Minister, Yariv Levin, the government’s liaison to the Knesset, is expected to announce new jobs for deputy ministers to the Knesset on Wednesday.
New Interior Minister Arye Deri has asked for deputy minister Yaron Mazuz to be shifted out of the ministry, and he is expected to become a deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Office. He is expected to be replaced as deputy interior minister by Deputy Welfare Minister Meshulam Nahari of Shas.
At the Interior Ministry, Mazuz was in charge of dealing with public petitions. For instance, he prevented people undergoing conversion from being expelled, and tried to use his post to lower water bills and make sure local authorities were run efficiently.
Mazuz’s spokesman David Azran said that if the shift does take place, he would be given responsibilities related to socioeconomic issues at the Prime Minister’s Office. Mazuz is currently set to be replaced as a deputy minister in six months by MK David Bitan, but he could end up remaining a deputy minister if Bitan becomes chairman of the coalition.
“He’s not disappointed about shifting jobs, because he knows he will contribute to the good of the public’s welfare no matter what job he has,” Azran said.