Likud MK Yuli Edelstein will be appointed health minister in the new government, he and Prime Minister Netanyahu announce.
“After serving the citizens of Israel for seven years as Knesset speaker, I chose to take on the central and signicant challenge facing the State of Israel, the fight against the coronavirus and preparing the health system for new challenges,” Edelstein says in a joint statement with Netanyahu.
Edelstein met with Netanyahu earlier today, during which the latter says he offered a choice of senior ministerial portfolios that Likud holds.
“I thank Edelstein for acceding to my request and choosing the most senior and important portfolio… in particular at this time,” Netanyahu says, adding the Likud No. 2 will also be a member of the security cabinet and deputy chairman of a ministerial body overseeing the response to the coronavirus.
Edelstein had served as Knesset speaker since 2013 but resigned in March rather than following a High Court of Justice order to hold a vote on his replacement.
He wanted to return to the speakership in the new coalition, but had been opposed by Blue and White.
Help us report truthfully on social media
As a multimedia journalist, my job is to take the quality, fact-based journalism produced by The Times of Israel newsroom and make it accessible across every platform — from Instagram posts to podcasts to short-form videos.
This is how many, especially young people, consume news these days. But misinformation is rampant on social media. Our team at ToI produces accurate, responsible short-form reporting on Israel and the Jewish world.
If you believe in the importance of factual social media journalism, please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. Your financial support is essential to sustain responsible multimedia reporting.
— Gabriella Jacobs, multimedia journalist
Support our work
Support our work
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this
You're a dedicated reader
We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.
That’s why we started the Times of Israel - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven’t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.
For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you,
David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel
Join Our Community
Join Our Community
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this
From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on Google
