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Israel’s Supreme Court has started a two-day hearing to determine whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accused of corruption, will be able to form a new government.
Sunday’s session came as hundreds of Israelis took to the streets of Tel Aviv the day before to protest against Netanyahu’s recent coalition agreement with his main rival, Benny Gantz. A ruling is expected to be announced Thursday.
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A ruling against Netanyahu would likely trigger a quick election, the fourth since April 2019, as Israel faces the public health crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic and its economic consequences.
After three inconclusive elections, Netanyahu and Gantz last month signed an agreement to form a unity government under which they would take turns leading Israel.
In power for more than a decade and currently head of a provisional government, right-wing Netanyahu will serve as prime minister of a new administration for 18 months before handing over the reins to centrist Gantz, under the unity agreement.
But several groups, including opposition parties and democracy watchers, have petitioned the country’s highest court to annul the deal and ban Netanyahu from leading the government, citing criminal proceedings against him.
In response to the petition, Israel’s Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit said there was not enough legal basis to disqualify Netanyahu.
Al Jazeera’s Harry Fawcett, reporting from Jerusalem near an anti-coalition sit-in, said the judges, in addition to investigating Netanyahu’s eligibility to form a new government, would also investigate the “legality of the deal.”
This is because both Netanyahu and Gantz have “tried to design an agreement that will somehow safeguard the position of each man,” Fawcett said.
‘Political pressure’
While the judges have indicated that there is “a great deal of political pressure and momentum” for a government to form after the three elections, they also appear to be exploring ways to try to limit some of that power, Fawcett said.
Some Israeli analysts have said the court was unlikely to ban Netanyahu from running a new government.
Netanyahu was charged in January with charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. He denies having acted wrongly in all three cases against him and has said he is the victim of a political witch hunt.
Netanyahu’s trial will begin on May 24.
Israeli law says that an accused prime minister is not required to resign until a final sentence.
Netanyahu is suspected of unfairly accepting gifts from businessmen worth $ 264,000, which prosecutors said included cigars and champagne, and of promoting regulatory favors in alleged offers for better coverage by a popular news website and more newspaper. sold from Israel.
If convicted, you could face up to 10 years in prison on bribery charges and a maximum period of three years for fraud and breach of trust.
SOURCE:
Al Jazeera and news agencies
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