Gay politician nominated to head Israel’s Knesset

By Abdel Raouf Arnaout

JERUSALEM (AA) – The right-wing Likud Party headed by Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu has nominated Amir Ohana, an openly gay politician, to head the Knesset (Israel’s parliament).

Ohana, 46, previously served as a public security minister, and is a close associate of Netanyahu.

“Good luck to the chairman of the coalition and the chairman of the Likud faction - Amir Ohana,” Netanyahu said in a tweet.

On Tuesday, interim Knesset Speaker Yariv Levin resigned as he prepares to assume a ministerial position in Netanyahu’s incoming government.

In 2015, Ohana was elected to the Knesset for the first time, and has since maintained his seat.

In 2011, Ohana founded the Likud Pride, a conservative LGBT organization.

Ohana is a gay rights activist who supports same-sex marriage, which is not recognized in Israel unless performed abroad.

The nomination comes amid growing concerns in Israel over attempts by Netanyahu’s far-right allies to amend the country’s anti-discrimination law.

The proposed amendment aims to grant private stores or shops the right to deny a service if it violates the vendor's religious beliefs, and as long as the service or product is "not unique" and can be found in a nearby store with a similar price.

The amendment has raised worries in the commercial activities that shops might refuse to supply services to members of the LGBT community.

On Monday, Netanyahu announced his rejection of statements by his far-right allies against the LGBT community.

The Knesset is expected to convene on Thursday to grant confidence to Netanyahu's coalition government.

*Ikram Imane Kouachi contributed to this report