Government Tells High Court: Interior Minister Wont Be Appointed Until After Elections
Israel's government will not appoint a permanent interior minister before the October 27 elections, citing the proximity of the vote.
Jerusalem, 27 September, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s government has told the High Court of Justice on Sunday that it does not intend to appoint a permanent interior minister before the October 27 Knesset elections. The government argued that, given the proximity of the elections, there was no justification for making a permanent appointment at this stage.
The government responded to a petition challenging the prolonged absence of a permanent interior minister.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu initially believed he could appoint ministers without Knesset approval because he was operating as a caretaker PM. He even discussed candidates for interior minister and considered making additional ministerial appointments.
However, the AG’s office clarified that such appointments were not permitted. Under Israeli law, a government is considered a caretaker government only after it resigns or following elections.
A government whose term has ended does not automatically have caretaker-government powers and cannot make the proposed appointments.