High Court Rejects Petitions Against Netanyahu-Gantz Unity Government

“There is no legal reason to interfere with the tasking of Knesset Member Benjamin Netanyahu with forming a government,” the court stated.

By TPS

The High Court of Justice has decided to reject the petitions filed against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Likud-Blue and White coalition agreement, paving the way for the establishment of the government and the swearing-in of the ministers next Wednesday.

After two days of deliberations on Sunday and Monday, the court announced its decision Wednesday night. The panel of 11 judges unanimously rejected all the eight petitions.

“There is no legal reason to interfere with the tasking of Knesset Member Benjamin Netanyahu with forming a government,” the court stated.

Regarding the coalition agreement, the judges stated that “although the coalition agreement between the Blue and White and Likud factions raises considerable legal difficulties, at this time there is no need to intervene in any of its clauses.”

Eight left-wing organizations filed petitions claiming that Netanyahu, who has been indicted, could not hold office, and that the coalition agreement between the Likud party and Blue and White was illegal.

Netanyahu’s trial on charges of bribery and misconduct in three cases is slated to begin later this month.

The coalition between Likud and Blue and White to establish a government requires special legislation to anchor the agreement which enables Netanyahu of the Likud party and Blue and White Chairman Benny Gantz to rotate the premiership after 18 months.

The court ruled that this was “an exceptional coalition agreement, some of which its provisions cause considerable difficulties. However, it is not yet time to examine these claims.”

The court is waiting for the agreement to become enshrined in law before it rules on its legality, meaning that the Netanyahu-Gantz may still face legal challenges that could lead to the fourth round of elections in Israel within a year’s time.

The Knesset plenum on Wednesday continued a series of marathon debates on some 9,000 objections to Basic Law Proposal: The Government (Amendment – Alternating Government).

The proposed legislative amendments are designed to allow the coalition agreement between the Likud and Blue and White parliamentary groups to be implemented.

The bill to amend the basic law deals with the structure of the rotation government, defining it as an equal government, in which both blocs that will make up the coalition will have an equal number of ministers and deputy ministers.

The bill further deals with the swearing-in of the prime minister and the alternate prime minister as soon as the government is established, the date on which the transfer of power between the incumbent prime minister and the alternate prime minister shall take place, and the daily conduct of the government.

The coalition-to-be has voted down all the objections and the bill is slated to pass on Thursday, clearing the path for the formation of government next week.

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