Opposition to file bill to disqualify Netanyahu from forming government

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in March 11, 2020 (left); Yesh Atid-Telem leader Yair Lapid in December 2019

Times of Israel reports, “Opposition parties have pledged to submit a bill this week that would bar a Knesset member under indictment from forming a government, which would prevent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from cobbling together a new coalition, if another election were held. The move, announced Saturday and Sunday, came as the weekly cabinet meeting was canceled amid a deep disagreement between Netanyau’s Likud party and Defense Minister Benny Gantz’s Blue and White over the state budget, which was threatening to send the country to new elections.”

““The fact that there was no cabinet meeting today and we’re galloping toward elections because the prime minister has indictments [against him] and this is all that occupies him is a complete disgrace,” Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, the head of the Yesh Atid-Telem party, said in a statement Sunday. He said the bill to disqualify Netanyahu would be voted on Wednesday. Referring to the economic crisis brought on by the pandemic, he added: “People have nothing to eat, businesses are closing. The situation cannot continue like this.” The announcement came a day after MK Nitzan Horowitz, head of the left-wing Meretz party, also said he would file such a bill.”

Meretz party head Nitzan Horowitz 

““It cannot be that a criminal defendant will manage a whole country according to whims and criminal interests,” Horowitz said. “The current Knesset has a majority for such a law, and it can prevent fourth elections” since April 2019. Netanyahu is standing trial on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust in a trio of criminal cases. He denies any wrongdoing. The legislation would require the support of Blue and White to have a shot at advancing it, and, even then, it does not appear to have a majority.” (more…)