Chaim Katz Appointed As Permanent Housing Minister, Replacing UTJ’s Goldknopf

On Wednesday, the Knesset gave its approval for Tourism Minister Chaim Katz to take on the role of permanent construction and housing minister, formally succeeding United Torah Judaism chairman Yitzchak Goldknopf.

The vote ended with 41 lawmakers in support and 28 opposed. Katz, a Likud MK, will now hold the housing portfolio alongside his ongoing responsibilities as acting welfare minister and acting health minister. He has been serving as tourism minister since 2022. Prior to the appointment, Katz signed an agreement addressed to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu stating that he would relinquish the housing ministry if Goldknopf and his UTJ party return to the coalition.

Katz has already been functioning as acting construction and housing minister since July 15, following Goldknopf’s resignation along with the rest of UTJ in protest against developments with the chareidi draft legislation. Around the same time, Shas also exited the coalition over the same issue, prompting Katz to assume the interim welfare and health portfolios as well.

At that stage, only Katz and Justice Minister Yariv Levin were tapped to temporarily cover the responsibilities of the departing UTJ and Shas ministers. Levin has since been handling the interior, labor, and religious affairs ministries. The limited appointments initially suggested that Netanyahu intended to keep those ministries reserved should the chareidi factions eventually rejoin the coalition. Katz’s move into the permanent housing role was widely seen at first as a sign UTJ was not expected back.

Still, Katz’s signed commitment to vacate the role for Goldknopf if UTJ rejoins signals that the path may remain open for their return.

A similar approach was taken earlier this year when the Otzma Yehudit Party resigned from government in January over opposition to the hostage deal with Hamas. At that time, Netanyahu entrusted Katz with Otzma Yehudit’s three ministries until the party rejoined in March, once Israel renewed its Gaza offensive.

After the vote, Katz expressed gratitude for the confidence placed in him. “I thank the prime minister for his trust and the members of the government for their support,” he said. He pledged to continue advancing housing policy, adding, “I will do my utmost to continue the momentum of construction and to expand the housing supply, while removing bureaucratic barriers and improving services for the citizens of Israel.”

{Matzav.com Israel}