Shas Lawmaker Moshe Arbel Announces Resignation From the Knesset

MK Moshe Arbel of the Shas party announced today (Sunday) that he is resigning from the Knesset after 12 years of public and parliamentary service. Arbel submitted a letter of resignation to Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana in accordance with Section 40 of Basic Law: The Knesset, bringing to a close a lengthy chapter in public life during which he held a series of senior positions, including Knesset member, Deputy Speaker of the Knesset, Minister of the Interior, and Minister of Health.

In his resignation letter, Arbel described the sense of mission that accompanied him throughout his years of public service: "I had the privilege of doing the greatest thing in the world: doing good for someone else." He also summed up his years in public service with the words: "12 years, more than a quarter of my life, of meaningful work on behalf of all citizens of the State of Israel... מתוך אהבת ישראל וראיית הטוב שבכל אחד ואחת".

Arbel said his decision to step down was made as the current Knesset nears the end of its term, and out of a desire to focus on a personal and family chapter. According to him, he plans to devote more time to his family, to Torah study, and to completing his doctoral degree in law at Reichman University. Alongside that, he thanked Shas's Council of Torah Sages and party chairman Aryeh Deri in his letter "for the privilege and the trust."

In his farewell letter, he emphasized that although he is ending his parliamentary term, he has no intention of stepping away from public life or from the movement's values: "Out of a desire to work for the prosperity of the State of Israel and of our holy movement, the Shas movement, and to work for the unity of the people and to sanctify Heaven's name." He closed his remarks with a message of reconciliation and unity: "May the Knesset merit to remove the causes of division, take away the barriers that separate us, and banish baseless hatred from among us, so that we may merit to honor one another and be patient with one another."

ארבל ואוחנה (צילום: תקשורת יו״ר הכנסת)

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri praised Arbel's work and commended his many years of contribution to the movement and the public system: "MK Moshe Arbel is one of the precious sons of the Shas revolution, who grew out of the movement's educational system." According to him, "For many years he worked with devotion for the movement and the public, and during his work alongside me at the Interior Ministry he demonstrated loyalty, talent, and impressive abilities, which were also evident in his roles as a member of Knesset and as a government minister."

Deri added that he accepted Arbel's decision to step down "for personal reasons that he laid out before me," but made clear that the relationship between the sides will continue: "Arbel informed me that he is ready to continue assisting the movement in any way that is needed, and I hope to continue making use of his help and assigning him tasks soon," he said. "I thank MK Arbel for his contribution and his blessed activity, and I bless him that in all he turns to, he will act wisely and succeed, and merit to see Jewish joy from all his descendants."