The files of the Otzma Yehudit party, which withdrew from the coalition at the beginning of the week, have been entrusted, for the time being, to Minister Haim Katz.
This follows the request of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
These are the files of the Ministry of National Security, the Ministry of the Negev, Galilee and National Resilience, and the Ministry of Heritage.
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The Prime Minister himself, due to being a defendant in a trial, is not allowed to hold the cases, and therefore he asked to transfer them to the responsibility of other ministers - so that they would not have difficulty parting with them, in the hope that Itamar Ben-Gvir's party will return to the coalition soon.
For now, as mentioned, Minister Katz will hold the three portfolios until ministers are found who agree to serve in them temporarily.
According to a report in Kan News, Netanyahu first approached Justice Minister Yariv Levin, Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, and Infrastructure and Energy Minister Eli Cohen - but was denied.
The reason for their refusal: an assessment that entering the Ministry of National Security, in place of MK Itamar Ben-Gvir, would only be for a short period of about a month and a half.
According to a report on Channel 12, Levin refused the position, claiming that he would not be able to hold both positions at the same time. The ministries of the Negev, Galilee and National Resilience, and the Ministry of Heritage were also offered to Levin.
After Levin refused the positions, the three portfolios will be given, as mentioned, to Tourism Minister Haim Katz, who will hold the three portfolios until ministers are found who agree to serve in them temporarily.
