In a two-to-one decision the High Court of Justice rejected a petition filed against Interior Minister Aryeh Deri serving in his cabinet post.

The court on Sunday 30 Nissan ruled to reject the petition seeking to unseat Deri as Minister of the Interior with the court explaining the plaintiff failed to “show a clear and direct connection between the nature and essence of Deri’s past crimes and serving today other than being Interior Minister”.

The petitioners explained that back in the 1980s when Deri served as Interior Minister he committed the crimes he was convicted of and this should disqualify him from returning to the same cabinet post. The court did not agree. Justice Salim Jubran who headed the three-justice team explained the court is aware of the investigation against Deri today but the petition addresses actions of the past, not current.

Just Neil Hendel was a minority opinion, accepting the contention of the petitioners that Deri should not be permitted to serve.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)