Netanyahu said breaking law that bars criminal defendants from serving as minister

By Sam Sokol 21 January 2025, 1:27 pm

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Sam Sokol is a former political correspondent at The Times of Israel. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives at his office at the Knesset in Jerusalem on January 20, 2025. (Chaim Goldberg/ Flash90)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly currently violating a law that bars criminal defendants from serving as ministers.

After the resignations of three cabinet ministers belonging to the far-right Otzma Yehudit party went into effect this morning without the announcement of their successors, Netanyahu was automatically appointed to take their place, the Haaretz daily reports.

This means that Netanyahu, for the moment, is acting as temporary minister in place of National Security Minister Ben Gvir, Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu, and Negev, Galilee and National Resilience Minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf.

The law forbids criminal defendants from serving as ministers but not as prime minister. Netanyahu is widely expected to appoint several members of his Likud party to fill the roles but has not yet revealed his picks.