The resignation of MK Asaf Zamir from his role as tourism minister took effect at 4:27 p.m. on Tuesday, two days after he officially submitted his letter of resignation from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
The resignation letter was called into question by cabinet secretary Tzachi Braverman, because it was submitted to Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz and not to Netanyahu. Zamir was forced by Braverman to send another letter to Netanyahu on Monday, saying the resignation letter also applied to him.
Zamir became the first Blue and White minister to quit on Friday. Gantz announced soon afterward that he would appoint Orit Farkash-Hacohen as the tourism minister, instead of her current role as strategic affairs minister and that minister-without-portfolio in the Defense Ministry Michael Biton would take that portfolio from her, but only in another month, when her projects have been completed.
Gantz also persuaded Farkash-Hacohen to quit the Knesset under the rules of the Norwegian Law, as Zamir did. Due to the law, when Zamir’s resignation took effect, the last Blue and White MK who entered the Knesset via the law, Hila Vazan, ceased being an MK.
Farkash-Hacohen resigned from the Knesset on Sunday night. Her resignation was set to take effect at 11:40 p.m. Tuesday.
Asked what she would do during her seven hours of unemployment, Vazan joked that she was debating whether to go to Greece or Dubai. Then, she said on a more serious note, that she had a regular meeting with her office staff.