What happened: Prime Minister Netanyahu fired Shas leader Aryeh Deri in accordance with last week’s High Court ruling.
- In a move coordinated in advance Netanyahu handed Deri his official letter of termination at yesterday’s weekly cabinet meeting.
- Netanyahu noted that he viewed Deri “as an anchor of experience, wisdom and responsibility” but was obliged to conform to the court ruling and “with a heavy heart, great regret and a very grim feeling to remove you from your post as a cabinet minister.”
- Deri reiterated his “iron commitment to the 400,000 people who elected me and Shas. No judicial decision will prevent me from serving them and representing them.”
- A second political challenge was also evident at the cabinet meeting yesterday, when ministers from the Religious Zionist Party boycotted the meeting. They were angry over what they perceive as a violation of coalition agreements.
- On Friday a new settler outpost “Or Haim” in the West Bank was dismantled under orders of Defence Minister Yoav Galant. The decision was made without the knowledge of Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
Context: Over the weekend public demonstrations once again protested the legal reforms being advanced by the government.
- More than 100,000 people demonstrated in Tel Aviv. The organisers deliberately did not invite any politicians, including from the opposition to address the crowd. Instead the main speaker was author David Grossman, who said that in Israel’s 75th year, the current moment is an “hour of darkness.” There were smaller demonstrations in Jerusalem, Haifa, Beer Sheva and Herzliya.
- Despite heavy criticism of the proposed judicial reform the Wall Street Journal published an editorial supportive of the reforms
- Deri’s reference to 400,000 Shas voters was recognised during the High Court’s hearings, however the judges made the distinction that his right to represent them in the Knesset did not include a right to sit as part of the executive branch.
- The “Or Haim” outpost was established in memory of the late Rabbi Haim Druckman. Despite being dismantled on Friday, attempts were made again yesterday to rebuild two structures that were again taken down.
- According to the coalition agreement, civilian affairs in the West Bank are due to be handed over to Smotrich. However, according to MK Orit Struck from the Religious Zionist Party, “There is an unreasonable foot-dragging in the transfer of powers to Minister Smotrich.”
- Minister Ben-Gvir, who did attend the meeting, had asked Galant to hold off on the evictions and demanded equality, claiming that Civil Administration officials don’t enforce the law when Arabs build illegally. “When it comes to Jews, the Civil Administration enforces the law brutally; within hours it seeks to demolish and destroy the outpost.”
- Galant responded saying, “illegal construction on private Palestinian areas will be removed immediately. If we hadn’t removed it today, we would have removed it on Sunday after being dressed down by the Americans. Establishing the outpost and the unpreventable clashes over it are liable to set the whole area on fire.”
- So far the prime minister has given his full backing to Defence Minister Gallant, also perhaps signalling that he is not looking to clash with the Biden administration. According to his office: “The government supports settlement only when it is done legally and it is coordinated with the prime minister and defence officials. That was not done in this case. The prime minister will hold deliberations on this matter at the beginning of the week.”
Looking ahead: Deri’s dismissal will go into effect tomorrow. Shas is expected to appoint existing MKs to temporarily serve as health and interior ministers.
- Despite the dismissal Netanyahu is keen for Deri to continue to attend cabinet meetings – even the security cabinet – as an observer.
- Deri is looking for a way to circumvent the ruling and return to his role. One option being explored is for the coalition to pass new legislation to formally prevent legal intervention into cabinet appointments as an additional component of the legal reforms being advanced.
