On trial for corruption: Another blow to Netanyahu from the Israeli Supreme Court
The Israeli Supreme Court has postponed the implementation of a law passed last March, which makes it more difficult to remove the prime minister from office, as part of the government's controversial judicial reform.
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According to Israel's state broadcaster KAN, the Israeli Supreme Court has ruled by a majority vote to postpone the implementation of the law that makes it more difficult to remove the prime minister from office.
With the decision taken following a petition filed by the Israel-based non-governmental organization Movement for Quality Government, the implementation of the law has been deferred to the parliamentary term following the next general elections.
'A PERSONAL REGULATION'
The ruling noted that the law in question is “a personal regulation that violates the constituent authority of the Israeli Knesset.”
Meanwhile, parliamentary elections in Israel, where members of the Knesset will be elected, are planned to be held in 2026.
Ofir Akunis, Minister of Science and Technology from the Likud Party led by Netanyahu, stated regarding the Supreme Court's decision: “It is quite sad that the Supreme Court judges are acting in this way while our soldiers are putting all disputes aside and fighting on every front.”
On the other hand, opposition Labor Party Member of Knesset and Rabbi Gilad Kariv said that the coalition government led by Netanyahu has dragged Israel into an unprecedented constitutional crisis and that this is partly due to Netanyahu's personal considerations.
Kariv stated, “The Supreme Court was asked to take unprecedented decisions to protect democracy against the coalition's unprecedented regulations that destroy fundamental democratic principles.”
ADOPTED ON MARCH 23
The law making it more difficult to remove the prime minister from office in Israel was adopted on March 23 last year.
According to the law, which prevents the "removal of the prime minister from office except in cases of physical or psychological incapacity," the authority to declare that the prime minister is unable to perform their duties is possible only through an announcement made by the prime minister in the Knesset or with the approval of three-quarters of the cabinet.
If the prime minister objects to a decision approved by three-quarters of the government, the removal of the prime minister is put to a vote in the Knesset.
If 90 members of parliament vote in favor of this in a session to be determined by the Speaker of the Knesset, the prime minister can be removed from office.
The law in question includes a provision that any decision taken by the judiciary, including the Supreme Court, regarding the authority to remove the prime minister shall be considered invalid.
The Israeli opposition states that the law in question provides protection for Netanyahu, who is being tried for corruption.
The Israeli Supreme Court had also annulled the "Reasonableness Standard Law" as part of the judicial reform on January 2.
The "reasonableness" standard gives the Supreme Court the authority to overturn a government decision if it is deemed unreasonable. Accordingly, an "unreasonable" decision is defined as a "decision that focuses disproportionately on political interests without sufficiently considering the public interest."
The coalition government, which holds a majority in the Knesset, passed the law on July 24 last year, despite growing political and social opposition and mass protests against the judicial regulation.