Aryeh Deri
Aryeh DeriMiriam Alsterl/Flash 90

Shas chairperson Aryeh Deri, who currently serves as Periphery Minister, announced Tuesday to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu that he is interested in serving as Interior Minister, after Silvan Shalom of Likud stepped down from the post amid sexual harassment allegations.

Netanyahu will need to bring Deri's appointment to the government for approval, which may happen as soon as this coming Sunday.

Deri served as Interior Minister previously but abused his position and was forced to resign in September 1993. His acceptance of bribes while in the post led him to be jailed for corruption in 1999 for around two years, and to leave politics for a number of years.

In early November Deri left the Economics Ministry due to his hesitancy to approve a clause in the gas deal, and let Netanyahu take on authority over the role.

As compensation, Deri was given the Periphery Ministry, but he was expected to be given another ministry as a member of the coalition government.

However, Deri's appointment to Interior Minister is not a sealed deal yet. Due to his previous corruption and jail time, it is expected that petitions will be filed against his appointment to the High Court.