Justice says he can’t rule on Deri’s suitability as minister until after appointment

Supreme Court Justice Alex Stein says he cannot rule on a petition to bar Shas leader Aryeh Deri from becoming a minister before such an appointment is made.

“In light of all the circumstances, and bearing in mind that the petition seems to be ahead of its time, I did not see fit to grant an interim ruling,” writes Stein in his response to the petition, asking Deri and incoming prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to respond by January 4.

The Movement for Quality Government filed the petition to prevent Deri — a previously convicted criminal — from returning to office due to a plea deal he made earlier this year on tax offenses which saw him resign from the Knesset.

MQG says it welcomes Stein’s demand to ask Netanyahu and Deri to respond about “why they think it is okay for a twice-convicted criminal to serve as a minister in the government of Israel.”