While Levin and Katz\u2019s appointments significantly reduce the number of ministries without full-time ministers, it is unclear how they will be able to deal with the responsibilities of multiple distinct portfolios.<\/p>\n
As justice minister, Levin is involved in a high-profile effort to overhaul the judiciary and weaken the Attorney General\u2019s Office, as well as helming a ministerial panel to determine the mandate of the government\u2019s controversial commission of inquiry into failures surrounding the Hamas onslaught of October 7, 2023.<\/p>\n
A spokesman for Levin did not respond when asked how he would handle his newly increased workload, telling The Times of Israel on Sunday only that the minister will remain in charge of these additional files \u201cuntil Shas returns to the government.\u201d After the vote, Levin was seen chatting in the plenum with former Labor Ministry chief Yoav Ben-Tzur of Shas.<\/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 gave 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 bill exempting most Haredim from enlistment in order to bring Shas back into the fold<\/a>.<\/p>\n Following Shas\u2019s exit, the government voted to appoint Levin to temporarily take over<\/a> the interior, religious affairs, and labor ministries in an acting capacity. The welfare and health ministries were transferred to Katz, who was already serving as interim housing minister after United Torah Judaism leader Yitzhak Goldknopf resigned<\/a> from the post prior to his party leaving the government<\/a>.<\/p>\n These temporary appointments ended after three months, leaving five ministries without ministers, although Katz was appointed<\/a> as permanent housing minister 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 \t 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 \u201cThe consequences of not having an appointed minister are severe and immediate,\u201d the Israel Democracy Institute argued in a position paper last week, noting that \u201ccertain actions and decisions require ministerial approval, such as signing regulations or appointing senior officials.\u201d<\/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\tReligious Services Minister Michael Malkieli announces the Shas party\u2019s decision to quit Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu\u2019s government, July 16, 2025. (Yaakov Cohen)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/F250428CG5011-e1745922075261-640x400.jpg\")
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\n\t\tThen-strategic affairs minister Ron Dermer speaks at the Jewish News Syndicate conference in Jerusalem, April 28, 2025. (Chaim Goldberg\/Flash90)<\/p>\n
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