BREAKING NEWS

UTJ Council of Torah Sages allows Litzman to become health minister

By GIL STERN STERN HOFFMAN

AUGUST 27, 2015 14:33

United Torah Judaism’s Deputy Health Minister Ya’acov Litzman accepted the position of health minister offered to him by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday after the ultra-Orthodox party's Council of Torah Sages decided to allow the move.

UTJ traditionally has not allowed any of its MKs to be officials, in order not to take responsibility for the government desecrating the Sabbath. However, last week, the High Court of Justice ruled that there cannot be any “deputy ministers with the status of a minister,” which was how Litzman was described.

Litzman said Thursday that he accepted the decision of the Council of Torah Sages and the prime minister's request to serve as health minister.

"I respect the decision of the court," Litzman said. " From my standpoint my job will not change at all. I will continue to serve the citizens of Israel, just like I did before today, and advance the health needs of the people."

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