7 may 2020
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Reuven Rivlin and Knesset Speaker Benny Gantz
President Reuven Rivlin said Thursday he has tasked Benjamin Netanyahu with forming the next government, after the prime minister won the support of 72 Knesset members to do so.
"Having received signatures of 72 members of the Knesset requesting that the task of forming a government should be assigned to MK Benjamin Netanyahu, President Rivlin has assigned him the task," said a statement released by the president's office.
President Reuven Rivlin said Thursday he has tasked Benjamin Netanyahu with forming the next government, after the prime minister won the support of 72 Knesset members to do so.
"Having received signatures of 72 members of the Knesset requesting that the task of forming a government should be assigned to MK Benjamin Netanyahu, President Rivlin has assigned him the task," said a statement released by the president's office.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formally received the support of a majority of lawmakers to lead a new government on Thursday, paving the way for a controversial power-sharing deal with rival-turned-partner Benny Gantz.
Netanyahu's Likud and Gantz's Blue & White parties issued a statement saying they had given President Reuven Rivlin the signatures of 72 Knesset members recommending Netanyahu as prime minister. He needed the support of 61 legislators in the 120-seat parliament.
Likud and Blue & White said that “representatives of the two parties submitted to President Reuven Rivlin the 72 signatures of Knesset members recommending Benjamin Netanyahu for the task of assembling an emergency national unity government."
Once approved by Rivlin, Netanyahu will have two weeks to form a government.
Of the 72 MKs who supported Netanyahu, 36 were members of Likud, 16 came from Blue & White, two were from Derech Eretz party, two from Labor, nine from Shas and seven from United Torah Judaism.
Lawmakers from Naftali Bennett's Yamina party did not add their support to back Netanyahu and was unclear whether they would join the new government, which is set to be sworn in on Wednesday of next week.
Blue & White asked the president to omit the fact that its MKs were among those who recommended Netanyahu, though the request was denied due to the need for transparency.
The Knesset passed legislation earlier in the day that paved the way for Netanyahu and Gantz to share the premiership and end a year-long political deadlock.
The legislation, which passed easily in a 72-36 vote, comes a day after the High Court ruled that it would not intervene in the new arrangement or prevent Netanyahu from leading the government despite the criminal indictments against him.
The decision essentially ends the country's prolonged political stalemate and prevented Israel from being plunged into its fourth consecutive election in just over a year.
Critics and good-government groups said the deal was illegal and challenged it in the High Court.
They argued that the law should bar an official charged with serious crimes from continuing as prime minister and objected to the newly created position of "alternate prime minister," a post that could allow Netanyahu to remain in office throughout his corruption trial and a potential appeals process.
The new position will enjoy all the trappings of the prime minister, including an official residence and, key for Netanyahu, an exemption from a law that requires public officials who are not prime minister to resign if charged with a crime.
Over two days of deliberations this week, the court considered the arguments before ruling there were no legal grounds to prevent the government from taking office.
Netanyahu has been indicted with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in a series of scandals involving trading favors with wealthy media moguls. His trial is set to start later this month.
Netanyahu denies any wrongdoing, and since his indictment last fall, he has repeatedly lashed out at the country's legal system. He and his political allies have taken special aim at the High Court, accusing it of overreach and political interference.
Gantz, who is to serve as defense minister during the government's first 18 months before taking over from Netanyahu as premier in October 2021, insists his presence will temper the assault on the legal establishment and install a sense of decorum to counter the divisiveness that had characterized Netanyahu's successive caretaker governments.
Still, their unorthodox arrangement, in which each will have virtual veto power over the other's decisions, required the new legislation that was harshly criticized by the opposition and civil rights groups.
Netanyahu's Likud and Gantz's Blue & White parties issued a statement saying they had given President Reuven Rivlin the signatures of 72 Knesset members recommending Netanyahu as prime minister. He needed the support of 61 legislators in the 120-seat parliament.
Likud and Blue & White said that “representatives of the two parties submitted to President Reuven Rivlin the 72 signatures of Knesset members recommending Benjamin Netanyahu for the task of assembling an emergency national unity government."
Once approved by Rivlin, Netanyahu will have two weeks to form a government.
Of the 72 MKs who supported Netanyahu, 36 were members of Likud, 16 came from Blue & White, two were from Derech Eretz party, two from Labor, nine from Shas and seven from United Torah Judaism.
Lawmakers from Naftali Bennett's Yamina party did not add their support to back Netanyahu and was unclear whether they would join the new government, which is set to be sworn in on Wednesday of next week.
Blue & White asked the president to omit the fact that its MKs were among those who recommended Netanyahu, though the request was denied due to the need for transparency.
The Knesset passed legislation earlier in the day that paved the way for Netanyahu and Gantz to share the premiership and end a year-long political deadlock.
The legislation, which passed easily in a 72-36 vote, comes a day after the High Court ruled that it would not intervene in the new arrangement or prevent Netanyahu from leading the government despite the criminal indictments against him.
The decision essentially ends the country's prolonged political stalemate and prevented Israel from being plunged into its fourth consecutive election in just over a year.
Critics and good-government groups said the deal was illegal and challenged it in the High Court.
They argued that the law should bar an official charged with serious crimes from continuing as prime minister and objected to the newly created position of "alternate prime minister," a post that could allow Netanyahu to remain in office throughout his corruption trial and a potential appeals process.
The new position will enjoy all the trappings of the prime minister, including an official residence and, key for Netanyahu, an exemption from a law that requires public officials who are not prime minister to resign if charged with a crime.
Over two days of deliberations this week, the court considered the arguments before ruling there were no legal grounds to prevent the government from taking office.
Netanyahu has been indicted with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in a series of scandals involving trading favors with wealthy media moguls. His trial is set to start later this month.
Netanyahu denies any wrongdoing, and since his indictment last fall, he has repeatedly lashed out at the country's legal system. He and his political allies have taken special aim at the High Court, accusing it of overreach and political interference.
Gantz, who is to serve as defense minister during the government's first 18 months before taking over from Netanyahu as premier in October 2021, insists his presence will temper the assault on the legal establishment and install a sense of decorum to counter the divisiveness that had characterized Netanyahu's successive caretaker governments.
Still, their unorthodox arrangement, in which each will have virtual veto power over the other's decisions, required the new legislation that was harshly criticized by the opposition and civil rights groups.
The Knesset on Thursday passed its final readings of the amended Basic Law: Government bill clearing the path for the formation of a unity government headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and supported by the Blue & White party under Benny Gantz.
The law was passed with a 72 to 36 majority after the High Court ruled on Wednesday that there was no legal impediment to either Netanyahu's appointment to head a government or his coalition agreement with the Blue & White party that required changes to the existing basic law.
Likud has begun collecting signatures of Knesset Members who wish to name Netanyahu's to form the new coalition, to be submitted by the end of the day to President Reuven Rivlin who is expected to task the PM with forming Israel's 35th government - expected to be sworn in on Wednesday.
Former Gantz ally and current opposition MK Yair Lapid said Gantz has lied to voters with his support of Netanyahu.
Gantz ran three consecutive election campaigns on the promise that he would refuse to participate in a Netanyahu-led government and that the PM is unfit for the job because he is under criminal indictment for bribery, fraud, and breach of trust.
The office of President Reuven Rivlin announced that the signatures of at least 61 members of the parliament are of great importance and must be submitted to him no later than midnight on Thursday with a letter naming Benjamin Netanyahu as the MK that should be tasked with forming a coalition.
The list of signatories will be posted on the Presidential website.
"When the signatures and requests are received, the president will respond," his office said.
Chief Justice Esther Hayut wrote in the High Court ruling Wednesday on petitions to ban Netanyahu from assuming the premiership and on the controversial changes to the Basic Law: Government, that the court refrained from interfering in the process of forming this coalition because such an intervention can come only in extreme cases.
"Our judicial ruling does not diminish the gravity of the charges against Member of Knesset Netanyahu or the difficulty that stems from having a prime minister who is charged with such crimes but according to the law he is innocent until proven guilty." Hayut wrote.
The law was passed with a 72 to 36 majority after the High Court ruled on Wednesday that there was no legal impediment to either Netanyahu's appointment to head a government or his coalition agreement with the Blue & White party that required changes to the existing basic law.
Likud has begun collecting signatures of Knesset Members who wish to name Netanyahu's to form the new coalition, to be submitted by the end of the day to President Reuven Rivlin who is expected to task the PM with forming Israel's 35th government - expected to be sworn in on Wednesday.
Former Gantz ally and current opposition MK Yair Lapid said Gantz has lied to voters with his support of Netanyahu.
Gantz ran three consecutive election campaigns on the promise that he would refuse to participate in a Netanyahu-led government and that the PM is unfit for the job because he is under criminal indictment for bribery, fraud, and breach of trust.
The office of President Reuven Rivlin announced that the signatures of at least 61 members of the parliament are of great importance and must be submitted to him no later than midnight on Thursday with a letter naming Benjamin Netanyahu as the MK that should be tasked with forming a coalition.
The list of signatories will be posted on the Presidential website.
"When the signatures and requests are received, the president will respond," his office said.
Chief Justice Esther Hayut wrote in the High Court ruling Wednesday on petitions to ban Netanyahu from assuming the premiership and on the controversial changes to the Basic Law: Government, that the court refrained from interfering in the process of forming this coalition because such an intervention can come only in extreme cases.
"Our judicial ruling does not diminish the gravity of the charges against Member of Knesset Netanyahu or the difficulty that stems from having a prime minister who is charged with such crimes but according to the law he is innocent until proven guilty." Hayut wrote.
6 may 2020
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's indictment on corruption charges does not disqualify him from forming a government, Israel's top court ruled unanimously on Wednesday, paving the way for the veteran leader to remain in power.
In its ruling against opposition petitioners, the High Court of Justice also found that Netanyahu's unity government deal with his election rival Benny Gantz does not violate the law, dismissing arguments that it unlawfully shields him in a corruption trial.
The ruling came after two days of televised courtroom debates by the panel of 11 judges, after a number of petitioners questioned the legality of the unity agreement between Netanyahu's Likud and Gantz's Blue & White.
Had the court ruled against Netanyahu, it would have plunged the country into its fourth consecutive election in just over a year as the nation battles the coronavirus epidemic.
"We did not find any legal reason to prevent Netanyahu from forming a government," the court said. "The legal conclusion we reached does not diminish the severity of the pending charges against Netanyahu for violations of moral integrity and the difficulty derived from the tenure of a prime minister accused of criminal activity," it added.
The judges ruled that while the coalition deal presents significant legal difficulties, the court would not interfere in its contents following changes submitted by Netanyahu and Gantz.
"This is an unusual coalition agreement, with some clauses raising serious legal concerns," said Chief Justice Esther Hayut.
"For example, if the agreements on Norwegian Law are executed, they will constitute a retroactive change to the rules of the game ... and will result the decline of the status of the opposition in Israel," she added, referring to the controversial law that allows ministers and deputy ministers to resign from the Knesset and enable the next candidate on their party’s list to enter, but they still have the right to return if the Knesset dissolves.
The Movement for Quality Government in Israel, one of the main petitioners, said the respect the decision but will nevertheless take to the streets in protest.
"We respect the High Court's ruling," said the statement. "However, from a moral standpoint, we are unable to come to terms with this situation of a criminally indicted prime minister.
The Movement for Quality Government in Israel will hold a large demonstration Saturday evening under the banner of 'Israel is ashamed,'" it added.
"The Netanyahu-Gantz government is the exact definition of the expression 'it's kosher but it's stinks.'"
Only minutes before the ruling had been made, Netanyahu and Benny Gantz agreed the unity government, if approved by the Knesset, will be sworn in next Wednesday, May 13.
Netanyahu has been charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in a series of scandals in which he is accused of offering favors to media moguls in exchange for favorable press coverage.
He denies the accusations and says he is the victim of a media-orchestrated witch hunt.
His trial was postponed in March due to restrictions his hand-picked interim Justice Minister Amir Ohana placed on the courts after the coronavirus crisis erupted. It is now scheduled to start later this month.
In its ruling against opposition petitioners, the High Court of Justice also found that Netanyahu's unity government deal with his election rival Benny Gantz does not violate the law, dismissing arguments that it unlawfully shields him in a corruption trial.
The ruling came after two days of televised courtroom debates by the panel of 11 judges, after a number of petitioners questioned the legality of the unity agreement between Netanyahu's Likud and Gantz's Blue & White.
Had the court ruled against Netanyahu, it would have plunged the country into its fourth consecutive election in just over a year as the nation battles the coronavirus epidemic.
"We did not find any legal reason to prevent Netanyahu from forming a government," the court said. "The legal conclusion we reached does not diminish the severity of the pending charges against Netanyahu for violations of moral integrity and the difficulty derived from the tenure of a prime minister accused of criminal activity," it added.
The judges ruled that while the coalition deal presents significant legal difficulties, the court would not interfere in its contents following changes submitted by Netanyahu and Gantz.
"This is an unusual coalition agreement, with some clauses raising serious legal concerns," said Chief Justice Esther Hayut.
"For example, if the agreements on Norwegian Law are executed, they will constitute a retroactive change to the rules of the game ... and will result the decline of the status of the opposition in Israel," she added, referring to the controversial law that allows ministers and deputy ministers to resign from the Knesset and enable the next candidate on their party’s list to enter, but they still have the right to return if the Knesset dissolves.
The Movement for Quality Government in Israel, one of the main petitioners, said the respect the decision but will nevertheless take to the streets in protest.
"We respect the High Court's ruling," said the statement. "However, from a moral standpoint, we are unable to come to terms with this situation of a criminally indicted prime minister.
The Movement for Quality Government in Israel will hold a large demonstration Saturday evening under the banner of 'Israel is ashamed,'" it added.
"The Netanyahu-Gantz government is the exact definition of the expression 'it's kosher but it's stinks.'"
Only minutes before the ruling had been made, Netanyahu and Benny Gantz agreed the unity government, if approved by the Knesset, will be sworn in next Wednesday, May 13.
Netanyahu has been charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in a series of scandals in which he is accused of offering favors to media moguls in exchange for favorable press coverage.
He denies the accusations and says he is the victim of a media-orchestrated witch hunt.
His trial was postponed in March due to restrictions his hand-picked interim Justice Minister Amir Ohana placed on the courts after the coronavirus crisis erupted. It is now scheduled to start later this month.
5 may 2020
Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit told the High Court of Justice Tuesday evening to not intervene in a revised coalition agreement signed between Likud and Blue & White after the court disapproved of the original version and demanded both parties to submit amendments to three of the document's key clauses within 24 hours.
"The attorney general believes that there is no reason to strike down the agreement or any of its clauses," Mandelblit wrote in his response. “Intervention by the honorable court in coalition agreements should be only reserved for exceptional and rare cases."
Earlier Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party and Benny Gantz’s Blue & White submitted the revised coalition agreement which addressed the pertinent changes warranted by the High Court.
A clause that bars the appointment of senior officials during the unity government's first six months was shortened to 100 days.
Another clause that doesn’t allow for most non-coronavirus-related legislation to be advanced for the first six months of the government was dropped, but both parties have agreed to give priority to laws aimed to fight the pandemic.
Moreover, Likud and Blue & White have decided the emergency orders meant to rein in the spread of the deadly pathogen will not be extended beyond six months.
The judges' panel implored both parties to uphold the customary practice of giving the opposition a number of Knesset committees. Likud and Blue & White refused, however, and will keep all Knesset committees in the hands of the coalition. The move is not unprecedented and has occurred in past governments, they added.
The judges' panel will deliver its ruling sometime before Thursday, just before Prime Minister Netanyahu's mandate to form a coalition is set to expire, which could plunge the country into a fourth consecutive election.
"The attorney general believes that there is no reason to strike down the agreement or any of its clauses," Mandelblit wrote in his response. “Intervention by the honorable court in coalition agreements should be only reserved for exceptional and rare cases."
Earlier Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party and Benny Gantz’s Blue & White submitted the revised coalition agreement which addressed the pertinent changes warranted by the High Court.
A clause that bars the appointment of senior officials during the unity government's first six months was shortened to 100 days.
Another clause that doesn’t allow for most non-coronavirus-related legislation to be advanced for the first six months of the government was dropped, but both parties have agreed to give priority to laws aimed to fight the pandemic.
Moreover, Likud and Blue & White have decided the emergency orders meant to rein in the spread of the deadly pathogen will not be extended beyond six months.
The judges' panel implored both parties to uphold the customary practice of giving the opposition a number of Knesset committees. Likud and Blue & White refused, however, and will keep all Knesset committees in the hands of the coalition. The move is not unprecedented and has occurred in past governments, they added.
The judges' panel will deliver its ruling sometime before Thursday, just before Prime Minister Netanyahu's mandate to form a coalition is set to expire, which could plunge the country into a fourth consecutive election.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party and Benny Gantz’s Blue & White on Tuesday revised their coalition agreement after Israel's top court criticized several causes of the deal and gave both parties 24 hours to make the pertinent changes.
The High Court of Justice expressed concerns about three clauses in the unity government agreement on Monday, during a petition hearing that claimed an indicted politician cannot be tasked with forming a government. On Thursday, Netanyahu's mandate to form a coalition is set to expire, which could plunge the country into another election.
A clause that bars the appointment of senior officials during the unity government's first six months was shortened to 100 days.
Another clause that doesn’t allow for most non-coronavirus-related legislation to be advanced for the first six months of the government was dropped, but both parties have agreed to give priority to laws aimed to fight the pandemic.
Moreover, Likud and Blue & White have decided the emergency orders meant to rein in the spread of the deadly pathogen will not be extended beyond six months.
The judges' panel implored the parties to uphold the customary practice of giving the opposition a number of Knesset committees. Likud and Blue & White refused, however, saying such a move will keep all committees in the hands of the coalition. They added the move is not unprecedented and has occurred in past governments.
Netanyahu slammed the High Court on Monday evening during his address to the nation - where he introduced further leniencies to health orders.
"In a democracy, he who gets the majority, leads the people," said Netanyahu. "I was elected by a majority vote. A huge majority of people want me to lead the government that we are working to establish. It is not appropriate for any element, neither clerks nor judges in court, to interfere with this basic component of democracy.
"The agreement with Blue & White was crafted very carefully and tearing chunks of it will undermine it. Any intervention increases the likelihood of a fourth election, which would be a disaster for the State of Israel. I hope the High Court doesn't do that."
Blue & White officials voiced concerns that such a move may lead Likud to back down from the agreement at the last minute and Netanyahu will try to recruit 61 lawmakers to recommend him for the position of prime minister.
The High Court judges' panel will deliver their ruling sometime before Thursday.
The High Court of Justice expressed concerns about three clauses in the unity government agreement on Monday, during a petition hearing that claimed an indicted politician cannot be tasked with forming a government. On Thursday, Netanyahu's mandate to form a coalition is set to expire, which could plunge the country into another election.
A clause that bars the appointment of senior officials during the unity government's first six months was shortened to 100 days.
Another clause that doesn’t allow for most non-coronavirus-related legislation to be advanced for the first six months of the government was dropped, but both parties have agreed to give priority to laws aimed to fight the pandemic.
Moreover, Likud and Blue & White have decided the emergency orders meant to rein in the spread of the deadly pathogen will not be extended beyond six months.
The judges' panel implored the parties to uphold the customary practice of giving the opposition a number of Knesset committees. Likud and Blue & White refused, however, saying such a move will keep all committees in the hands of the coalition. They added the move is not unprecedented and has occurred in past governments.
Netanyahu slammed the High Court on Monday evening during his address to the nation - where he introduced further leniencies to health orders.
"In a democracy, he who gets the majority, leads the people," said Netanyahu. "I was elected by a majority vote. A huge majority of people want me to lead the government that we are working to establish. It is not appropriate for any element, neither clerks nor judges in court, to interfere with this basic component of democracy.
"The agreement with Blue & White was crafted very carefully and tearing chunks of it will undermine it. Any intervention increases the likelihood of a fourth election, which would be a disaster for the State of Israel. I hope the High Court doesn't do that."
Blue & White officials voiced concerns that such a move may lead Likud to back down from the agreement at the last minute and Netanyahu will try to recruit 61 lawmakers to recommend him for the position of prime minister.
The High Court judges' panel will deliver their ruling sometime before Thursday.
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