Religious Zionism director-general says government ‘delusional’ if it thinks it can appoint more ministers

Yehuda Wald, the Religious Zionism party’s director-general, condemns reported government efforts to appoint two new cabinet ministers as “delusional,” tweeting that such a course of action is “neither necessary nor correct.”

In the middle of a war, “it is appropriate to close certain ministries and not open new ones,” he writes, arguing that “anyone who resigns from the government,” issues threats against it and votes against the coalition “should not receive any reward for his irresponsible conduct.”

He appears to be referring to far-right MK Avi Maoz — the sole lawmaker representing the anti-LGBTQ, anti-feminist and anti-pluralist Noam party — who resigned from the government last week.

Wald’s comments come after the Kan public broadcaster reported earlier today that the coalition is considering appointing two more ministers in a bid to further stabilize the government.

According to the outlet, Maoz, who as a deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Office oversaw educational vendors supplementing curricula in public schools by way of his Jewish National Identity Office, will become a minister with those same powers and a larger budget.

Additionally, the report says that under the plan, far-right Otzma Yehudit MK Zvika Fogel will become intelligence minister — the intelligence ministry was closed last year and would therefore be reestablished.

The report says that if Otzma Yehudit gains another ministry, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich will be granted additional powers. No further details were given.

In 2023, the Finance Ministry recommended closing 10 superfluous government ministries to cover the wartime budget shortfall, but only one ministry on the list was ever shuttered.