From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, August 20, 2025
Netanyahu taps Justice Minister Levin to helm Jerusalem Affairs Ministry
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleAriela Karmel is a political correspondent at The Times of Israel. She previously reported for Calcalist and Haaretz. She holds an MA in Middle Eastern and African History from Tel Aviv University and a BA in Political Science from the University of British Columbia.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appoints Justice Minister Yariv Levin to head the Jerusalem Affairs and Jewish Tradition Ministry, while Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi will be responsible for the annual Lag B’Omer holiday celebration at Mount Meron, which falls under the Jerusalem Ministry’s authority.
The event each spring sees masses of Haredi pilgrims in attendance. Due to security measures established after a deadly crowd crush at the site in 2021, it is accompanied by widespread disruptions to public transportation.
The Jerusalem Affairs portfolio was previously held by United Torah Judaism MK Meir Porush, who resigned in July when the ultra-Orthodox party bolted the coalition over delays in advancing a draft exemption law for Haredi men.
The ministry is one of 10 government ministries that the Finance Ministry reportedly recommended closing down in late 2023. It handles, among other things, Hasidic pilgrimages to Uman, Ukraine, in addition to the Meron event.
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