Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has tapped Amir Ohana as acting justice minister, making him the first openly gay minister in the country's history.
The appointment of Mr Ohana, from Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party, comes as Jerusalem prepares for its annual Gay Pride celebrations on Thursday.
"Amir Ohana is a jurist who knows the legal system well," the PM's office said in a statement.
He takes up the position from Mr Netanyahu's right-wing rival Ayelet Shaked, fired by the premier on Sunday along with education minister Naftali Bennett after the prime minister failed to form a government following April elections.
Israel's first openly gay minister, Amir Ohana has been appointed by Prime Minister Netanyahu. Source: Desiree Navarro/WireImage
Mr Netanyahu opted for parliament to dissolve itself and approve new elections, preventing Israeli President Reuven Rivlin from selecting someone else to form a government.
Mr Shaked and Mr Bennett had left the Likud years earlier, but their New Right party failed to win enough votes in April's poll to clear the threshold to join Israel's parliament.
Israeli ministers remain in their posts immediately after elections, until the formation of the next administration.
But Mr Netanyahu's office confirmed their sackings on the weekend.
Justice ministry hopeful Betzalel Smotrich, of the religious far-right alliance United Right, said Monday the country should be run according to biblical laws, sparking outrage among secular Israelis.
Mr Netanyahu responded by saying "the state of Israel will not be a halakha state", referring to Jewish law.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Source: EPA
Thousands of people are expected to converge on Jerusalem on Thursday for its "march of pride and tolerance" to support the rights the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community, amid tight security.
Israel has presented itself as a pioneer in LGBT rights in the region, but homosexuality is deeply rejected by conservative religious parties whose support Mr Netanyahu is likely to need in order to form his next government.
It has also been accused of "pinkwashing", or pushing its reputation for tolerance, in an effort to restore a liberal image tarnished by its occupation of Palestinian territories.
Mr Netanyahu's failure to form a coalition was due to strongly secular right-wing former defence minister Avigdor Lieberman's refusal to back down on demands for legislation to force religious Jews to serve in the army along with other Israelis.
