The World Briefly
March 24, 2023The Untouchables
Israel
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The Israeli parliament passed a new law Thursday that limits the means of removing a prime minister, a move critics say aims to shield Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from his ongoing corruption trials, the Financial Times reported.
Existing Israeli law allows the prime minister to be taken from office, but is vague on when such a mechanism can be used. The new measure, however, now specifies that the prime minister can only be removed on grounds of ill health, mental or physical.
Only the cabinet or parliament can remove the prime minister.
Supporters said the legislation would provide “stability” and prevent the “annulment” of the democratic process. But opposition politicians and others described it as “a contemptible and corrupt personal piece of legislation.”
The measure comes as Netanyahu continues to battle allegations of fraud, bribery, and breach of trust. The conservative leader has denied the allegations.
The new law is part of a broader set of legal changes introduced by Israel’s conservative government that include a controversial judicial overhaul bill that would give the government and its allies control over the appointment of judges and limit the ability of Israel’s Supreme Court to strike down laws.
Netanyahu and his ruling coalition say they want to rein in an activist judiciary that has pursued a “partisan left-wing agenda.” But opponents counter that the changes threaten Israel’s checks and balances.
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