(ANSA) - TEL AVIV, JAN 18 - The Supreme Court of Israel has ruled that Aryeh Deri, of the religious Shas party, cannot be interior and health minister in the new government of Benjamin Netanyahu as he was convicted of tax crimes in the past.
The decision - taken by 10 out of 11 judges - requires Netanyahu to remove his minister from office.
The Supreme Court ruling - a veritable political bombshell - will now have to be accepted or not by Netanyahu.
Deri is the secretary of Shas, one of the major religious parties and a close ally of Netanyahu.
(HANDLE).
