Israel Court against Ministerial Appointment
Israel Supreme Court also lacks the power to effectively scrutinize policy. It has now been determined that Deri’s appointment as Home Secretary is illegal. The Supreme Court ruled that the leader of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, Ari Deri, cannot retain his position as Israel’s minister of interior and health. The judges called the nomination “inappropriate”.
A Coup for Prime Minister Netanyahu
Civil rights activists had already filed a complaint about Dhari’s criminal past. The decision is seen as a severe blow to the new government of re-elected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It was unclear at first whether the Prime Minister would comply with the decision and fire Deri or resist, exacerbating the dispute with the judicial system.
Deri has been convicted multiple times, most recently in 2021, for tax evasion. In order to be able to appoint interior and health ministers in Benjamin Netanyahu’s new right-wing religious government, a law was specifically amended. He later became Minister of Finance on a rotating basis.
Concern about the weakening of the STF
After the decision, there are fears that the new Minister of Justice, Garev Levin, will accelerate his plans to weaken the STF by not wanting to abide by its decisions.
According to the plans, a majority in Parliament should be able to pass a law even if the Supreme Court finds it contrary to the Basic Law. Levine also wants to change the composition of the body that appoints judges. He accuses the court of excessive interference in political decisions.
Tens of thousands of people in Israel have taken to the streets in recent weeks to protest this development. Another large demonstration is scheduled for Tel Aviv on Saturday. Protesters see a threat to democracy in Israel.
My shield is guilty of corruption and breach of trust
Deri was sentenced to three years in prison in 2000 on charges of bribery, corruption and embezzlement, even when he was interior minister. In 2013, he returned to the political arena. In 2021 he had to resign as deputy due to further tax irregularities and was placed on parole as part of an agreement. He had assured the court that he wanted out of politics.
