Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed key ally Aryeh Deri from all ministerial posts, complying with an Israeli High Court ruling that it was unreasonable to appoint the Shas party leader to positions in government.
The court had said Deri’s appointment “cannot stand” due to his criminal convictions and because he had said in court last year before being sentenced over a tax fraud conviction that he would retire from public life. Netanyahu told Deri he made the move “with a heavy heart, with great sorrow,” according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s office.
Deri’s Shas party – which won 11 seats in Israel’s 120-seat parliament, the Knesset, in November and is a key component of Netanyahu’s coalition – immediately hit back, calling the court decision “arbitrary and unprecedented.” The Sephardi religious party said the court “today threw away the voices and votes of 400,000 voters of the Shas movement.” “Today the court actually ruled that the elections are meaningless. The court’s decision is political and tainted,” the party said.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Netanyahu sacks key ally Aryeh Deri to comply Israeli Supreme Court rulingIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired Shas party leader Aryeh Deri on Sunday — four days after the Supreme Court revoked the appointment of his close political ally as minister of interior and health.
Read more »
Israel PM Netanyahu removes top minister over Supreme Court rulingIsraeli Prime Minister Netanyahu removes top minister Aryeh Deri from office following a Supreme Court ruling against his appointment due to a tax evasion conviction last year
Read more »
A new Israeli military drone actually looks like a tiny X-WingIsrael Aerospace Industries' new 'Point Blank' drone looks like a little X-Wing, but its capabilities are far from science fiction.
Read more »
Japan concerned over unilateral Israeli measures in Palestinian territoriesExpressing concern over recent unilateral measures in Palestinian territory, Japan seeks cooperation from Israel in reaching a two-state solution
Read more »