Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu
Prime Minister Binyamin NetanyahuYonatan Sindel/Flash 90

Attorney General Avihai Mandelblit is expected to notify Prime Minister Netanyahu that he is prevented from returning to his position as communications minister, according to a report this morning in Yediot Aharonot.

Netanyahu resigned recently from the position of communications minister upon the instruction of the Attorney General, and the position was temporarily handed to Minister Tzahi Hanegbi.

The instruction of the Attorney General established that Netanyahu is unable to continue to serve as communications minister due to the criminal investigations taking place against him.

The substitute position is expected to expire at the end of the month, but because the Israel’s “Basic Law” dictates that the temporary appointment of a minister cannot be extended beyond three months, Netanyahu will have to permanently appoint a minister to the position.

The report noted that, although the Attorney General has prevented Netanyahu from serving as communications minister, he has nevertheless permitted Netanyahu to deal with the matter of the Public Broadcasting Corporation.