Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu has appointed Amir Ohana, an openly gay man as the country’s Acting Minister of Justice.

Announcing his appointment, the Prime Minister’s office said Mr. Ohana was a former lawyer who was ‘very familiar with the justice system’ in the country.

The 43-year-old Ohana, of Mr. Netanyahu’s Likud party was named as Acting Justice Minister following Monday’s sacking of the previous office holder, Ayelet Shaked. Netanyahu reportedly fired Shaked because his party which was part of Netanyahu’s coalition did not get enough seats to return to parliament in last month’s elections.

The appointment of Ohana, a staunch Netanyahu loyalist who backs a controversial bill to give the Prime Minister immunity from possible prosecution comes days after the country’s parliament dissolved itself in preparation for fresh elections.

Netanyahu is under investigation for alleged bribery and fraud and could be indicted in the next few months. He has however vehemently denied all the accusations levelled against him.

Ohana is a gay rights activist who supports same-sex marriage which is not recognized in Israel unless performed abroad. Last year, he voted against party lines in favour of a bill widening a ban on discrimination based on sexual identification.

Although gay rights face opposition from the powerful ultra-Orthodox Jewish community in Israel, the country has a progressive attitude towards the gay community which have protections under the law.

 Ohana is also one of a number of openly gay members of the country’s parliament. Just last year, an Israeli city near Tel Aviv became the first to have an openly gay mayor.