MK Cohen Shas relinquishes the appointment to the minister: "Not at the expense of dismissing Shaka-Biton"

Further to Netanyahu's frozen appointments round, Deri's party waived the demand for appointment to the construction and housing portfolio. Cohen's sex would have required her dismissal from the ministry and made it difficult for her to serve as welfare minister. PM Olmert Will Distribute Welfare, Diaspora and Agriculture Portfolios to Ministers

MK Cohen Shas relinquishes the appointment to the minister: "Not at the expense of dismissing Shaka-Biton"

Deputy Finance Minister MK Itzik Cohen from Shas announced this morning to the party's chairman Aryeh Deri that he will resign his appointment as Minister of Housing and Construction. This, he said, would require the resignation of Minister of Housing and Construction Yifat Shasha Biton. If Asha-Biton was transferred from office, she would not be able to take up a position in Sara's office because of the transition government.

Deputy Minister Cohen will remain in office in the Ministry of Finance. "I did not want my appointments to be at the expense of the dismissal of Minister Shea Beton. This is not my way and contrary to my character. I prefer to continue in the Ministry of Finance and promote initiatives and actions for the public in Israel," Cohen explained. In addition, it was decided today that MK Meshulam Nahari, Deputy Minister of Interior, will be appointed Deputy Minister of Labor and Welfare with extensive powers, with emphasis on addressing disadvantaged populations.

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Giving up the appointment, Cohen (Photo: Reuven Castro)

Yitzhak Cohen Shas arrives at the faction meeting with the president of the state, September 22, 2019 (Photo: Reuven Castro)

Continuing the round of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's frozen appointments, Shas relinquished the demand to be appointed to the housing portfolio. In the coming days, Netanyahu is expected to hand over his resignations - welfare, diaspora and agriculture - to incumbent ministers, instead of appointing new ministers and encountering legal difficulties.

Just a week ago, MK David Bitten (Likud) announced that, due to the criticism expressed by the High Court about the appointment of ministers in the transition government, he is giving up the appointment of Minister of Agriculture. "Following the postponement of the ministerial appointment, I decided to waive the appointment to the Minister of Agriculture. It is a pity that the appointment that had to be made two years ago was constantly postponed with various imperfections until we reached a point that uprooted it."