The cabinet on Sunday approved the appointment of Justice Minister Yariv Levin to lead three ministries whose helms were vacated after ultra-Orthodox parties withdrew from the government this summer.

In addition to Levin taking over the Labor, Religious Services and Jerusalem portfolios, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was temporarily given a number of powers usually assigned to the interior minister. Netanyahu cannot take over the ministry himself because, by law, a minister cannot serve in such a role while under indictment.

The appointments will require ratification by the Knesset.

While Levin’s appointment significantly reduces the number of ministries without full-time ministers, it is unclear how he will be able to deal with the responsibilities of four distinct portfolios.

As justice minister, Levin is involved in a high-profile effort to overhaul the judiciary and weaken the Attorney General’s Office as well as helming a ministerial panel to determine the mandate of the government’s controversial commission of inquiry into failures surrounding the Hamas onslaught of October 7, 2023.

A spokesman for Levin did not respond when asked how he would handle his newly increased workload, telling The Times of Israel only that the minister will remain in charge of these additional files “until Shas returns to the government.”

Shas quit the government in July to protest the........

© The Times of Israel