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\t\t\t\tBy signing up, you agree to the terms<\/a><\/p>\n A spokesman for Levin did not respond when asked how he would handle his newly increased workload, telling The Times of Israel only that the minister will remain in charge of these additional files \u201cuntil Shas returns to the government.\u201d<\/p>\n \t Shas quit the government<\/a> in July to protest the coalition\u2019s failure to pass legislation exempting yeshiva students from mandatory military conscription. While the ultra-Orthodox party has remained a member of Netanyahu\u2019s coalition, it withdrew from all coalition roles<\/a> it held in the Knesset last month in a further act of protest. Despite these moves, the party has reportedly worked to maintain de facto control<\/a> of the ministries it has given up.<\/p>\n Some 80,000 ultra-Orthodox men aged between 18 and 24 are currently believed to be eligible for military service but have not enlisted. Despite the IDF stating that it urgently needs 12,000 recruits, Netanyahu is currently seeking to advance<\/a> a bill exempting most Haredim from enlistment in order to bring Shas back into the fold.<\/p>\n According to several reports, the ultra-Orthodox parties have indicated that they will support Levin\u2019s new roles due to recent progress being made in passing the conscription bill. Speaking with The Times of Israel last week, a senior Shas official stated<\/a> that his party had \u201csignaled a long time ago that it is in favor\u201d of the bill.<\/p>\n In July, the government voted to appoint Levin to temporarily take over<\/a> the interior, religious affairs and labor ministries in an acting capacity following Shas\u2019s exit from the government. The welfare and health ministries were transferred to Tourism Minister Haim Katz (Likud), who was already serving as interim housing minister after United Torah Judaism leader Yitzhak Goldknopf resigned<\/a> from the post prior to leaving the government<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t These temporary appointments ended after three months, leaving multiple ministries without ministers, although Katz was appointed as permanent housing minister<\/a> in September.<\/p>\n The cabinet has also yet to appoint a replacement for Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, who stepped down<\/a> from his post this month. Seen as Netanyahu\u2019s closest adviser, Dermer had handled a wide range of diplomatic matters, including ties with Washington, the hostage negotiations during the Gaza war, and Israel\u2019s relations with its Arab neighbors.<\/p>\n Last week, national broadcaster Kan reported that Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara had written to Netanyahu insisting that replacement ministers \u201cmust be appointed immediately in order to reduce the harm to important public interests.\u201d<\/p>\n The fact that multiple ministries were functioning without ministers damaged their ability to provide services, she argued.<\/p>\n Kan has also reported that despite Shas leaving the government, party chairman Aryeh Deri, who held no ministerial position even before bolting \u2014 due to court orders in light of previous criminal convictions \u2014 was still attending meetings of the security cabinet.<\/p>\n
In this season of DocuNation, you can stream six outstanding Israeli documentaries with English subtitles and then join a live online discussion with the filmmakers. The selected films show Israel beyond the conflict: a place of storytellers and musicians, of dreamers, makers, and communities rooted in meaning and trust.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t When you watch DocuNation, you\u2019re also supporting Israeli creators at a time when it\u2019s increasingly difficult for them to share their work globally.<\/p>\n To learn more about DocuNation: The Heart of Israel, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t\t
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\n\t\tShas leader Aryeh Deri (C) confers with Justice Minister Yariv Levin (L) as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looks on during a vote in the Knesset in Jerusalem, on March 27, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel\/Flash90)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/F230905AVS08-640x400.jpg\")
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\n\t\tTourism Minister Haim Katz attends a conference at the Histadrut Union in Tel Aviv on September 5, 2023. (Avshalom Sassoni\/Flash90)<\/p>\n
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