Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reappointed Blue and White leader Benny Gantz as justice minister in the current caretaker government, local media reported yesterday.
On Tuesday night, the Israeli High Court froze Netanyahu’s attempt to appoint the Likud member and Regional Cooperation Minister Ofir Akunis as justice minister.
After long months of opposition, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nominated Blue and White leader Benny Gantz for justice minister in the transitional government https://t.co/7U6kGyKPP9 by @RinaBassist
— Al-Monitor (@AlMonitor) April 29, 2021
Netanyahu stated in a statement that his agreement to appoint Gantz was a way “out of the deadlock”, even though he thought he could defend his legal position.
In the statement, which was reported by the Jerusalem Post, Netanyahu said he had detailed legal arguments to counter those of the High Court and Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit, who said that his proposal to appoint Akunis was a violation of the law.
Netanyahu caves just before Supreme Court hearing which would have rejected his justice ministry appointment. He agrees to appoint Benny Gantz as minister for remainder of current government. https://t.co/PWOeu6s2tz via @timesofisrael
— Tikun Olam (@richards1052) April 29, 2021
The position of justice minister has been vacant for four weeks. Gantz previously held the post on a temporary basis for three months which ended at the start of April, and Netanyahu did not want to leave the ministry in the hands of his power-sharing partner Blue and White.
“We followed through on our pledge to stop Bibi’s plan and will continue to protect democracy,” Blue and White said in a statement yesterday afternoon according to the Jerusalem Post.
(MEMO, PC, Social Media)
