‘Insanity’ – fury as anti-LGBTQ leader set to head ‘Jewish identity’ department

Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to appoint Avi Maoz, single lawmaker of the anti-LGBTQ Noam party, head of a newly created “Jewish identity” authority has been met with fierce criticism by outgoing ministers. 

Maoz is known for his homophobic comments and policy proposals aimed at curbing the rights of the LGBTQ community in Israel, opposing women in combat positions, support for legalising gender segregation at public events, and warning against the influence of Arab teachers in Jewish high school.

The newly created position as head of “Jewish identity” falls under the Prime Minister’s Office. Moaz will also be appointed deputy minister as part of the coalition agreement.

“This is the man who opposes women’s enlistment to the IDF, opposes women in senior roles, supports conversion therapy for the LGBT, and supports every other backward view imaginable. Is this what you wanted? For this backward nationalist to make decisions over your life? Over your daughters? Over your gay nephew? Is this how you want the State of Israel to look?” Lapid tweeted following the announcement.

Maoz will also be have authority over the organisation Nativ, which deals with Jewish immigration to Israel from the former Soviet Union.

Outgoing Diaspora Affairs Minister Nachman Shai called the decision to let Maoz deal with immigration “unreal.”

Nachman Shai, the current Diaspora minister in the outgoing government, said that forming the new body for Jewish identity “cheapens those words and their meaning.”

“Like the cat who got the cream, MK Avi Maoz, soon a deputy minister, will screen potential immigrants from Russia and Ukraine,” he said.