,
8 tweets,
3 min read
Read on Twitter
Netanyahu planning to pass in the new Knesset law preventing the High Court from blocking any government or Knesset decision; there thereby allowing Knesset to confer upon him immunity from prosecution. Devastating scoop from @chaimlevinson haaretz.com/israel-news/ne…
The implication of this law, if it passes, will be that the High Court will lose it powers of judicial review over government actions, in any field, the military occupation, state and religion, etc. All this to save Netanyahu from being put on trial.
Chances of the High Court emasculation/Netanyahu immunity law passing? Right-wing-religious parties have 65 seats in new Knesset. Of these Kulanu have 4, not enough to prevent the law passing, even if all 4 members vote against. A tiny handful of Likud MKs rebelling? Doubtful.
In 13 years in power, Netanyahu has never tried something like this. He never truly challenged the Supreme Court. But now it's his neck on the line, he's just won a 5th election and he just might have a majority in the new Knesset to pass such a law, upending 70 years' precedent.
It all boils down to how many old-school Likudniks, true to Menachem Begin's tradition of supporting the rule of law and Jabotinskean "Hadar" remain in the Knesset, if any? Saar, Katz, Erdan, Steinitz perhaps? Kahlon and the other 3 Kulanu MKs? Moment of truth for many of them.
Hours later, Likud with a semi-denial of "sensational media reports that include also proposals that haven't come up in the coalition talks... Likud's guiding principle remains safeguarding strong and independent courts but not an all-powerful court"
There's also a non-denial in Likud's response attacking media's "biased commentary which is meant to prevent any attempt to restore the balance between the elected politicians and the judiciary." In other words, yes we want to emasculate the High Court in the name of democracy.
My @haaretzcom analysis - Netanyahu's on a Quest for Survival, and the Hell With Israeli Democracy
haaretz.com/amp/israel-new…
haaretz.com/amp/israel-new…
