Top Israeli court defers controversial law seen as shielding prime minister

By Zein Khalil

JERUSALEM (AA) – The Israeli Supreme Court on Wednesday delayed the implementation of a law passed by the Knesset Parliament as part of the controversial "Judicial Reform" legislation.

The law aims to limit the possibility of isolating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

With a majority of 6 out of 11 judges, the Supreme Court ruled to postpone the amendment to the Basic Law (akin to a constitution) related to the immunity of the prime minister, Israeli public broadcaster KAN reported.

Following a petition filed by the independent, and non-partisan “Movement for Quality Government,” the court decided to postpone the law known as the "Incapacity Law."

The law will now take effect with the next Knesset term, as it is deemed "a highly personal amendment that constitutes an abuse of the constitutional authority of the Knesset."

The Knesset approved this law on March 23, limiting the possibility of isolating the prime minister.

According to the law, only the prime minister himself or the Cabinet, by a two-thirds majority, can declare the prime minister "incapable of performing his duties" due to physical or mental incapacity.

The Israeli opposition argues that the law shields Netanyahu, who faces charges of bribery, breach of trust, and fraud. Netanyahu denies the charges.

“It is very unfortunate that this is how the judges of the Supreme Court behave at a time when Israelis are putting aside their differences to fight ‘shoulder to shoulder’,” Innovation, Science and Technology Minister Ofir Akunis said, slamming the court decision.

The new court decision is considered a second judicial setback for Netanyahu and the "Judicial Reform" plan within 48 hours.

The court repealed on Monday the reasonableness standard law, a long-standing defense by Netanyahu within the controversial "Judicial Reform" laws introduced by the current government before the conflict in Gaza erupted on Oct. 7.

The reasonableness standard law is one of eight proposed bills by the government to achieve what it says a balance between the legislative, executive, and judicial authorities. The opposition, however, views the proposed bills as a coup.

Israel has been in political turmoil in recent months over a government plan to introduce judicial reforms seen by the opposition as a power grab in favor of executive authority.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio