Israel Plans Interior Minister Appointment During Election Period Amid Legal Challenge

The Israeli government informed the Supreme Court that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intends to appoint a permanent Interior Minister during the ongoing election period. This announcement came in response to a petition demanding the court order a fixed appointment and annul government decisions that transferred some Interior Ministry powers to the Prime Minister. The petition argued that temporary delegation of powers cannot replace a permanent minister responsible for the ministry's operations.

The state explained that the absence of a permanent Interior Minister has caused increasing legal and practical difficulties. Temporary measures, including transferring about 90 ministerial powers to the Prime Minister and some to the Finance Minister, have not fully resolved these issues and have even created additional challenges. Of these powers, the Knesset has approved the transfer of 56, while approximately 35 remain pending.

Key areas affected by the lack of a permanent Interior Minister include Knesset elections, voter registration, soldiers' voting rights, immigration and citizenship, entry into Israel, senior appointments, local government, property tax, urban planning, and education. The Central Elections Committee also noted that election-related powers under the Interior Minister might need to be exercised during the campaign. Despite Netanyahu's stated intention to appoint an Interior Minister during the election period, no appointment has yet been made, leaving the court case unresolved.