The Shas party on Tuesday evening decided on the distribution of roles to its members in the incoming government. Shas chairman Aryeh Deri will serve as Interior Minister and Health Minister. Ya'akov Margi will be appointed Welfare Minister, Yoav Ben-Tzur will be appointed as a Minister in the Welfare Ministry. Michael Malchieli will be appointed Religious Affairs Minister, Haim Biton will serve as a Minister in the Education Ministry, Moshe Arbel will be appointed Deputy Interior Minister and Deputy Health Minister, and MK Uriel Buso will be appointed chairman of the Shas faction in the Knesset, chairman of the Knesset Health Committee, and Deputy Speaker of the Knesset. MK Yosef Taieb will be appointed chairman of the Education Committee and MK Yinon Azoulai will serve as a member of the Finance Committee. Related articles: Shas MK praises Muslim country in Knesset plenum If Goldknopf's rabbis told him to leave gov't - he should do it 'What audacity? We are the ones who are going to fight and die.' 'My son was summoned to the IDF, he will study Torah in jail' A statement published by the Shas Council of Torah Sages reads: "The Council of Torah Sages expressed its satisfaction with the achievements in the negotiations on the core issues - Shabbat, conversion, kashrut, education, the yeshiva world, the rabbinate and the judiciary, preserving the sanctity of the Western Wall, helping the weak, and many other achievements. Also, the council received a detailed update detailing the roles designated for the representatives of the movement, which are intended to carry out the goals of the movement." "The Council of Torah Sages congratulates the government that will be formed and hopes that it will succeed in its mission, fulfill its days and fulfill its important goals for the benefit of the people of Israel," the statement reads. However, Aryeh Deri's appointment as a minister will be challenged next week when the Supreme Court hears petitions against his appointment in light of his conviction for tax offenses. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara does not intend to defend his appointment to the court.
