Naftali Bennett
Naftali BennettYonatan Sindel/Flash 90

Education Minister Naftali Bennett will resign as MK within the next 48 hours, he announced Wednesday, in order to allow a former Jewish Home MK to rejoin the government. 

Bennett's move follows the ratification of the Norwegian Law, which allows one minister or deputy minister from each party to resign from the Knesset, paving the way for new MKs to enter.

Bennett himself initiated the law, and explicitly stated earlier this year that he intends to resign from his MK position in the event the law had passed. 

“I initiated the law and as such I should be the one to give up my Knesset seat, before others,” Bennett was quoted as telling colleagues in his Jewish Home party. “I will not ask others to resign on my behalf.”

Following his resignation, Bennett's MK seat will be replaced by former MK Shuli Muallem-Refaeli, who served in the 19th Knesset. 

In the event Bennett is relieved as his post as Education Minister, he will return to being an MK, and Muallem-Refaeli will end her term in the current Knesset. 

Shas chairman and Economics Minister Aryeh Deri is also expected to resign from his MK post in the near future, allowing former Shas chairman Avraham Michaeli to enter the Knesset.