Shas ministers file resignations as party withdraws from government

By Sam Sokol 17 July 2025, 1:48 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"

Ministers from the ultra-Orthodox Shas party have begun submitting their resignations following yesterday evening’s decision to quit the government over its failure to pass a law exempting yeshiva students from military service.

Interior Minister Moshe Arbel, Social Affairs Minister Yaakov Margi and Religious Services Minister Michael Malkieli all write to Prime Minister Benjamin announcing their resignations, which under the law will take effect in 48 hours.

In a post on X, Margi states that he “had the privilege of working for the people of Israel during one of the most challenging periods for the State of Israel, and in particular for the welfare of the weaker sectors” of the population. He says he will “continue to serve the public as a member of the Knesset and work for the benefit of all Israeli citizens.”

Shas also holds the health, labor and deputy agriculture portfolios and the holders of those positions are expected to tender their resignations today as well.

Due to the wave of resignations, Shas MKs Erez Malul and Semion Moshiashvili will be pushed out of the Knesset under the so-called Norwegian law. The Norwegian Law allows ministers and deputy ministers from large factions to resign from the Knesset, with their seats then filled by other members of their parties.

According to Hebrew media reports, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit party is currently demanding control of the housing and interior ministries while Religious Zionism chairman Bezalel Smotrich has demanded that his party be allowed to appoint the new head of the Knesset Finance Committee.

Likud whip Ofir Katz took over the committee on Wednesday evening, following the resignation of United Torah Judaism MK Moshe Gafni from the position on Monday in the wake of his party’s exit from the coalition.