Zohar, Katz give up Knesset seats to make way for more Likud MKs the Norway way

Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar and Tourism Minister Haim Katz have resigned Knessets seat, becoming Likud’s first ministers to vacate a Knesset spot under the framework of the Norwegian Law.

Likud party sources have said the question over which of Likud’s 17 ministers would resign as Knesset members — retaining their ministerial positions but allowing more of the party’s slate to enter parliament — has caused some tension within the 32-lawmaker party. Politicians who lowered their Knesset profile in the past have suffered in primaries; some in Likud are pointing to Labor party ministers who got bumped from their party’s slate over the summer after resigning as MKs under the law.

Holding the next spot in Likud’s candidate roster, Canada-native Dan Illouz is expected to be sworn in as Zohar’s replacement next week, while Ariel Kelner will get the nod instead of Katz.

Up to five Likud ministers can pass their Knesset seats on under the current system, but Netanyahu is mulling expanding the number to 10 to bring in more Likud members as parliamentarians, given the high number of ministers in his party. Ministers cannot vote on laws, staff committees, propose bills, or serve as Knesset speaker or deputy speaker.