BICOM

39-year-old Amir Ohana will become the Likud Party’s first openly gay Knesset member, following the resignation yesterday of Interior Minister Silvan Shalom.

Shalom was first elected to the Knesset in 1992 and has served in numerous ministerial capacities since 1998 including foreign and finance. He is also a Deputy Prime Minister. However, at least seven women claimed last week that sexual contact had been forced on them by Shalom. He has faced similar accusations during the past two years, but there has not been enough evidence to pursue a case. This time though, Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein has asked police to investigate the allegations.

In a statement yesterday, Shalom maintained his innocence, but said, “I am weary of the suffering that has been parcelled out to my family, wife, children and elderly mother.” As a result, 57-year-old Shalom said, “I have decided to resign my position as a minister and Knesset member,” emphasising, “For 23 years I have served the public with dedication and devotion as a Knesset member and as minister in different roles, from a sense of calling.”

Shalom will be replaced almost immediately in the Knesset by Ohana, who heads the LGBT caucus in the Likud Party and is the next in line on the party’s list of parliamentary candidates from March’s general election. Ohana and his partner have a son and a daughter, born through a surrogate in the United States. He is a criminal lawyer and a major in the IDF reserves.

Speaking to Channel Two, Ohana said, “It was expected that I would enter at some point during the current Knesset.” However, he added, “At the same time, it unfortunately happened under unhappy circumstances. I will do my best for the State of Israel.” Ohana is set to be sworn in at some point this week.