24 Facts About Aryeh Deri

In 1999, Deri was convicted of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust; he was given a three-year jail sentence.

Aryeh Deri was placed in second position on the list, thus being re-elected to the Knesset.

In December 2021, it was reported that Aryeh Deri would resign from the Knesset as part of a plea deal for tax offenses.

However, due to a January 2023 ruling by the Supreme Court of Israel that Aryeh Deri was not eligible for a ministerial position due to his criminal convictions and the terms of his plea deal, he was dismissed from his official posts in the Israeli cabinet.

Aryeh Makhlouf Deri was born in Meknes, Morocco, to Esther and Eliyahu Deri.

Aryeh Deri's parents lived in one of the new wealthy districts of the city and were influenced by French culture.

Aryeh Deri's father owned a successful tailoring business; his family were traditional Jews, but not Orthodox.

At the age of 5, Aryeh Deri was enrolled at Ozar Hatorah, a school that combined secular and Orthodox Jewish religious education.

Aryeh Deri remained Minister of the Interior until May 1993, when he became a Minister without Portfolio, before returning to the Interior Ministry in June.

Aryeh Deri was convicted of taking $155,000 in bribes while serving as the interior minister, and was given a three-year jail sentence in 2000.

However, on 28 December 2014, Channel 2 released video footage in which Ovadia Yosef, the founder of Shas, attacked Aryeh Deri, calling him a wicked man and a thief.

Aryeh Deri left his post as Minister of the Economy on 3 November 2015, reportedly over an unpopular gas monopoly deal, and was replaced by Netanyahu, who promised to speed up the deal.

Aryeh Deri was appointed Minister of the Interior on 11 January 2016.

Aryeh Deri resigned from the Knesset in October 2016 to allow Michael Malchieli to take his seat, whilst remaining a minister.

Aryeh Deri temporarily served as Minister of Religious Services in 2018 after the death of David Azulai.

On 17 April 2020, a senior Likud Minister, speaking unattributably, told Al-Monitor that Aryeh Deri was mediating the political coalition talks between Netanyahu and leader of the opposition Blue and White alliance Benny Gantz.

Aryeh Deri continued to serve as Interior Minister, and after losing the ministry with the formation of the thirty-sixth government of Israel, as an MK and chair of the Shas party.

Aryeh Deri admitted to underreporting the value of property sold to his brother Shlomo Aryeh Deri to avoid land tax, failure to report income from the sales and evading tax on NIS 534,000 of income, by funneling payments from Green Ocean investment fund to his brother.

Aryeh Deri received a year's suspended sentence, and was ordered to pay a NIS 180,000 fine.

On 2 February 2022, Aryeh Deri gave a speech in which he accused his prosecution of being motivated by his Moroccan heritage, and expressed his intent to remain as leader of Shas.

Aryeh Deri led the party through the 2022 election, and returned to the Knesset after it won eleven seats.

Aryeh Deri became Minister of Interior, Minister of Health and Vice Prime Minister in the 37th government of Israel on 29 December 2022.

On 18 January 2023, the Supreme Court of Israel ruled that Aryeh Deri was not allowed to hold a position as a cabinet minister due to his conviction for tax offenses.

Aryeh Deri was a member of the Chief Rabbinate Council.