Shalom resignation sets off jostling for cabinet posts

Silvan Shalom’s resignation as interior minister in the wake of sexual harassment accusations has sparked a battle among cabinet ministers for the coveted post, and a likely new round of ministerial musical chairs.

Senior Likud officials told the Ynet news site that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would willingly give the job to Galilee, Negev and Periphery Minister Aryeh Deri (Shas), who only recently left the Economy Ministry after he refused to overrule the government’s antitrust commission in order to approve the controversial natural gas reform championed by the prime minister.

Culture and Sport Minister Miri Regev, a populist often in the spotlight over controversial comments, but also unhappy in the relatively small ministry she currently occupies, is said to be preparing her own bid for the more senior position.

“There’s an expectation from the prime minister that he’ll appoint her interior minister,” a source close to Regev told the Walla news site, “since she came in fifth place in the last Likud primaries.”

Regev is the highest-ranked woman on the Likud list.

The Interior Ministry was cut in size during the coalition negotiations for the current government last summer, seeing some of its key functions – including its powerful planning department – moved into an expanded Finance Ministry. Yet the ministry remains a powerful agency with the power to oversee municipal governments and national urban development plans.

With Shalom’s resignation Sunday, Netanyahu automatically became acting interior minister, though Likud officials believe he is unlikely to hold on to the post as he has others. Netanyahu currently serves as foreign minister, communications minister, economy minister, regional development minister and interior minister.

He was also health minister until a few months ago, when a High Court petition forced then-deputy health minister Yaakov Litzman (United Torah Judaism) to assume the full ministerial post.

Deri leads the seven-seat Shas Knesset faction, and is expected to tell Netanyahu he prefers the Interior Ministry, a longtime Shas bastion, over remaining in the more minor portfolio of Negev, Galilee and periphery.

Deri declined to comment on the issue Sunday, saying he was busy with last-minute preparations for his daughter’s Monday wedding.

Deri’s possible appointment would have repercussions for other cabinet ministers, leading to “promotions” up the hierarchy of ministerial prestige.

According to Ynet, Regev is asking to receive either the interior or the periphery portfolios, while Deputy Minister for Regional Development Ayoub Kara, the only Druze in the government, has long demanded a full ministerial post because he represents the Druze community, and is among the most veteran MKs currently serving in parliament.

Tourism Minister Yariv Levin, who briefly held the Public Security Ministry until Netanyahu could convince Likud no. 2 Gilad Erdan to take the post, is considered one of Netanyahu’s closest allies and a likely beneficiary from a new round of appointments.

Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman MK Tzachi Hanegbi, a veteran cabinet minister in past Likud administrations, is also said to be asking to be considered for a cabinet post.

The current government is just seven months old (formed in mid-May after March general elections). Yet for several ministers, including Levin, Deri, Science Minister Ofir Akunis and others, any new appointment would mark their second job change.

Shalom also resigned his Knesset seat on Sunday, opening up a slot for the next in line on the Likud election slate – Amir Ohana, head of the Likud’s gay caucus.

A lawyer by training who is also a major in the reserves and a veteran of the Shin Bet domestic security service, Ohana will be the first openly gay MK in a right-wing party and only the second serving in the current Knesset.

“It was expected that I would enter at some point during the current Knesset,” Ohana told Channel 2 Sunday evening. “At the same time, it unfortunately happened under unhappy circumstances. I will do my best for the State of Israel.”

Ohana lives in Tel Aviv with his partner and their four-month-old twins, brought to Israel after a surrogate pregnancy in the US. Ohana has been active in promoting LGBT rights within the party, where some political heavyweights such as Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon have publicly endorsed calls to advance gay rights.

Update: The allegations against Shalom were not substantiated and the investigation was subsequently closed.