Israel’s Supreme Court has for the first time reviewed petitions against a law that will make it much harder to declare a prime minister incapable of holding office.
Chief Justice Esther Hayut and two other judges gathered at the court in Jerusalem on Thursday. A court spokesman said a decision was probably not expected on Thursday.
Israel’s parliament passed the law, which makes it much harder to impeach a prime minister, in March. According to the law, the impeachment of a prime minister would only be possible for mental health or other health reasons.
It also requires a majority of 75 per cent of the government and at least 80 out of 120 members of parliament for an impeachment.
The high bar was designed to prevent interference by the Supreme Court or the Attorney General’s Office.
Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has called for the law to be repealed, saying it was personally tailored to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is charged with fraud, breach of trust, and bribery.
Hundreds of Israelis demonstrated in Tel Aviv on Wednesday evening ahead of the court’s deliberations.
“We will not allow Israel to turn into a dictatorship,” the organisers announced.
“We call on the court to deliver a verdict in line with the values that represent the egalitarian, liberal, and democratic state of Israel that we want for ourselves and our children.”
As part of a highly controversial judicial reform package, parliament passed another law in July removing the Supreme Court’s ability to challenge “unreasonable” government decisions.
That law will be reviewed on Sept. 12, when 15 judges of the Supreme Court will meet for the first time to consider petitions against it.
Both cases involve amendments to existing basic laws.
If the Supreme Court rejects such a law and the government does not accept that decision, the country would face a state crisis.
