Minister Arye Deri is leaving the Knesset, but will remain in his ministerial positions, and continues to head the Shas political party.
At a faction meeting earlier today, Deri announced: “I have decided to quit the Knesset in deference to the strength of youth.”
"My roles as Minister of the Interior, Minister of the Development of the Negev and Galilee, Chairman of Shas and a member of the cabinet demand a lot of time from me. Michael Malchiel, who will enter the Knesset instead, is a man of broad education and a Torah scholar. He is the young leadership of Shas,” Deri said.
It is of note that Deri could have quit within the framework of the so called “Norwegian Law” - which would have allowed him to return to the Knesset should Shas not be included in the coalition - however, he chose not to do so.