The complex relationships between religion and government in Israel have taken another labyrinthine turn. Israel's 1971 Jewish Religious Services Law gave administrative jurisdiction over municipal rabbis to the Religious Affairs Minister. In 2004, the Religious Affairs Ministry was dismantled and its duties were split between the Prime Minister's office, the Interior Ministry and the Ministry of Tourism. The Prime Minister's Office got the jurisdiction to submit complaints against municipal rabbis to administrative tribunals. Now the government is concerned about statements by some rabbis directed against the Prime Minister because of his Gaza withdrawal plan. To eliminate any potential conflict of interest in complaints filed against such rabbis, the Israeli Cabinet announced yesterday (see Par. 4) that it was transferring to the Justice Minister the authority to submit these complaints to administrative tribunals. This decision will be submitted to the Knesset for approval.
In another action yesterday (see Par. 3), the Israeli Cabinet transfer the issue of conversions that are not Jewish conversions from the Prime Minister's Office to the Justice Minister.
