Tourism Minister Haim Katz has accepted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's request to serve as Housing and Construction Minister in addition to his current role. This follows the resignation of Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf amid the conscription exemption law crisis. Katz's appointment comes while he is among tens of thousands of Israelis stranded abroad without the ability to return, and he will fulfill his duties remotely in the meantime. Katz also replaced the ministers from Otzma Yehudit party in January, who resigned from the government over reaching a hostage deal, and then as now - he was abroad when the appointment was announced.