Law preventing Netanyahu's impeachment ratified, protests ongoing

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli Media
23 Mar 2023 12:23
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The legislation prohibits the Israeli occupation Supreme Court from ordering a prime minister to take a leave of absence.

The Israeli Knesset convenes to vote on a bill (Knesset Twitter account)

The Knesset on Thursday passed into law a bill that would shield Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from a court decision to disqualify him, with 61 Knesset members voting in favor and 47 against, Israeli media reported.

Following hours of intense debate that lasted into the early morning, the measure passed its second and third final readings.

The opposition had submitted multiple objections to the measure, which had been expedited in the Knesset's House Committee, and had pledged to mount a fierce obstruction against the legislation, which was perceived as "tailored" to spare Netanyahu from potential legal difficulties.

The legislation prohibits the Israeli occupation Supreme Court from ordering a prime minister to take a leave of absence.

According to The Times of "Israel", it is widely viewed as a response to concerns that the court might force Netanyahu to resign due to a potential conflict of interest created by the occupation Prime Minister overseeing his coalition's bid to remodel the judiciary while himself on trial for multiple corruption charges.

Netanyahu is facing bribery, fraud, and breach of trust allegations in three distinct investigations for allegedly accepting costly gifts from donors and seeking to make secret arrangements with media corporations for more favorable coverage.

According to the new legislation, only a three-quarters majority vote of government ministers or MKs may force a premier to take a temporary leave, and only for mental or physical health grounds.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid slammed the passed bill and Netanyahu coalition members that "like thieves in the night, passed an obscene and corrupt personal law against an unfounded rumor about recusal."

"Netanyahu only cares about himself," Lapid added.

On his part, MK Avigdor Liberman said his "Yisrael Beytenu" party will submit a petition to the Supreme Court to overturn the law, while Labor leader Merav Michaeli described the law as "a shameful and disgraceful law whose entire purpose is to prevent Netanyahu from being sent to prison."

It is noteworthy that Netanyahu is banned from dealing directly with the recent judicial overhaul as part of a 2020 agreement.

The new law states that an Israeli occupation prime minister could be removed from office in only two ways: either the prime minister informs the Knesset that they are removing themselves, or the cabinet suspends the prime minister in a majority vote of three-quarters of ministers, and that decision is then backed by a majority of 90 MKs.

The Times of "Israel" highlighted that Netanyahu's coalition is pursuing a second bill that would prohibit the court from assessing ministerial selections, allowing Shas leader Aryeh Deri to return to the cabinet.

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara in January ordered Netanyahu to dismiss Deri in accordance with a Supreme Court decision that Deri's cabinet positions were inappropriate in light of his financial criminal convictions.

Settlers block roads, burn tires

Simultaneously, Israeli settlers blocked "Kaplan" Street in "Tel Aviv", while others burned tires at the entrance to the port of "Ashdod", in protest against the judicial overhaul plan, as per Israeli media.

"Israel" is witnessing protests against the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, especially its plans related to judiciary reforms. This is not all; many have warned that a "civil war" was just around the corner for the Israeli occupation. pic.twitter.com/Hza4rScjFu
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) March 5, 2023

In the same context, demonstrators from the Israeli occupation Navy graduates closed the southern entry road to the port of "Ashdod".

On Thursday, Israeli media reported that more than 100 Israeli reserve officers at the Air Force Operations Headquarters announced that they would not join the military service.