Netanyahu brings rebel Likud MK Amsalem into government with triple ministerial role

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ends a saga of internal conflict in his Likud party by bringing renegade MK David Amsalem into the government, giving him three ministerial positions.

The firebrand Amsalem was the most senior Likud MK not to get a post in the cabinet and has been openly opposing Netanyahu and stirring up discontent among his supporters in the party.

According to Likud, Amsalem will serve as a junior minister within the Justice Ministry. He will also be the regional cooperation minister and the minister liaising between the government and the Knesset.

The party says current Knesset liaison Yoav Kisch has agreed to the deal.

Amsalem had previously demanded to be either Knesset speaker or justice minister and rejected offers of other ministries.

Last summer, Amsalem submitted a bill to move judicial appointments fully under government control, a move echoed by the coalition’s current judicial overhaul proposals.

Amsalem has also been a fierce critic of the Supreme Court and publicly accused Chief Justice Esther Hayut of racism.