By Yonah Jeremy Bob, Jerusalem Post—
The High Court of Justice on Tuesday heard arguments whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is on trial on several corruption counts, could be forced to resign when he swaps roles with Blue and White’s Benny Gantz in November 2021 and takes up the position of alternate prime minister.
The issue is one of several mentioned in petitions filed by various parties who question whether the role of alternate prime minister, the authority it holds, and aspects of the coalition agreement between Likud and Blue and White, are constitutional.
Already in May, the High Court allowed Netanyahu to form his coalition and said the main principles of the government deal were constitutional, but it delayed ruling on Netanyahu’s possible fate once the rotation is enacted and he becomes alternate prime minister, and on aspects of the position’s authority.
Petitioners, including the Movement for the Quality of Government in Israel, Meretz, and the Guardians of Israeli Democracy all argued that Netanyahu must resign when he no longer has the unique protections of the office of prime minister.
They have said that creating immunity for the alternate prime minister position and allowing him to stay in office under indictment until conviction and all appeals are exhausted (identical to the protections afforded to the prime minister) is unconstitutional and contradicts 25 years of High Court rulings. Continue Reading….
