Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appointed a close Likud party ally as justice minister. Netanyahu fired Education Minister Naftali Bennett and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked on Sunday and has yet to name a new education minister.
Amir Ohana's appointment on Wednesday came as Netanyahu heads an interim government following the dissolution of parliament last week. The prime minister also faces a hearing before the attorney general over corruption allegations and possible indictment.
Ohana is an ardent Netanyahu backer and has voiced support for a bill to grant a seated prime minister immunity from prosecution.
It remains unclear how, if at all, Ohana's appointment could impact the cases against the prime minister.
With his appointment, Ohana also becomes Israel's first openly gay cabinet member.
"An attorney and jurist, MK Ohana is very familiar with the justice system. He holds a Bachelor degree in Law and previously worked for the State Attorney's Office (Central District). He worked as an attorney for a decade and appeared in various courts throughout the country. As an MK, he has led a series of laws including Basic Law: Nation-State of the Jewish People," the Prime Minister's Office said on its website.
A statement from Ohana said, "As a Jew, as an Israeli, as a partner of the love of my life Alon Hadad, as a father to Ella and David, who are my family, as a Mizrahi, as a member of Likud and as a liberal (yes, all of those!), and after thousands of hours as a litigator, it is a great privilege to serve the State of Israel as justice minister. I thank the prime minister for the tremendous trust, and thank you to all those who have sent their congratulations."
Ohana's appointment has rattled the United Right faction, as National Union leader Bezalel Smotrich was eyeing the justice portfolio.
Smotrich, however, sparked controversy on Monday when he declared that he would like to see Israeli judiciary defer to Halacha, or Jewish law, adding, "Israel will go back to being run as it was during the days of King David and King Solomon – according to the law of the Torah."
The statement caused a political and public firestorm, which many decrying what they called the Smotrich's outright plan to endorse religion coercion.
Netanyahu on Monday rejected Smotrich call to govern Israel according to Jewish law, stating, "Israel will not become a state of Halacha.
During May's coalition negotiations, which failed to produce a government, United Right had originally demanded the justice portfolio for Smotrich and the education portfolio for Habayit Hayehudi leader Rafi Peretz.
With the Justice Ministry now spoken for, Smotrich and Peretz are reportedly at odds over who should get the education portfolio.
In March, Netanyahu stated that he plans to keep the education portfolio in Likud's hands, but it is believed he is likely to tap Peretz.
Still, under the faction agreement between National Union and Habayit Hayehudi, Smotrich was given the right of first refusal to any portfolio the faction was offered, but on Wednesday, an associate of Peretz said that there was "absolutely no way" that the former chief military rabbi would cede the Education Ministry to Smotrich.
Peretz's camp has also accused Smotrich of instigating fights with Netanyahu, which they said have caused the prime minister to lose faith in Smotrich and perhaps in the United Right altogether.
In a statement released after learning of Ohana's appointment, Smotrich said, "Amir Ohana is a friend and a worthy person, and of course I wish him great success, but he's not the story here. The story is Netanyahu, who wouldn't dare treat any of his other [political] partners as he treats the religious Zionist camp. It's time we drew the necessary conclusions."
Sources in the religious Zionist camp said that "the ball is in Netanyahu's court. He has to show us that he sees the religious Zionist camp as a respected partner."
