Anti-LGBT MK Avi Maoz says he’s in advanced talks to return as Jewish identity czar

Avi Maoz, the head of the one-man, virulently anti-LGBT Noam party, says he is in advanced negotiations over a return to his former post as a deputy minister in charge of a “Jewish identity” body.

Maoz was made a deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and was promised some authority over school content, which caused an outcry among critics. Last month, he resigned in protest of the promised authority not being granted to him by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but said he would continue backing the coalition as a Knesset member.

Now, he tells the Kikar HaShabbat Haredi news site that “in the coming few weeks, it is possible that I will return to my post, with all the powers” promised to him.

“There are negotiations, and they have advanced quite a bit, to my satisfaction. We still need to close some details, we are continuing these discussions during these days, and I very much hope this will work out and I’ll return to my role,” he says.