As Avi Maoz handed official powers, Likud education minister says he holds purse strings

The government cabinet approves transferring certain authorities to MK Avi Maoz — who has pushed misogynistic and anti-LGBTQ policies — for his newly created “Jewish identity” office within the Prime Minister’s Office.

In a statement, the government says only that it “decided to transfer various responsibilities from the Education Ministry and the Social Equality Ministry to the Prime Minister’s Office as per the coalition agreements.”

Maoz is set to control external programming in schools as well as pursue a range of policies he has long pushed for, including amending the Law of Return.

In a statement, Likud Education Minister Yoav Kisch says he is working in coordination with Maoz, “and if there are crazy things in the ministry, we’ll remove them,” pointing to the example of a memorial for Palestinian victims.

Kisch says reports that Maoz has been handed an independent budget are untrue: “The plans stay in the Education Ministry, the money stays in the Education Ministry — the Education Ministry alone is responsible.”