The body, which also serves as a constitutional court, made its decision after a petition was submitted to it, because according to Israeli law, anyone can seek legal redress against new laws or changes in laws in the Supreme Court. The decision was supported by six judges to five.
The March amendment to the Basic Law would have protected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from being ordered by the Attorney General or the Supreme Court itself to leave office.
But this change can only take effect after the next general elections in the Israeli parliament.
The court explained in its merits that the amendment to the Disability or Disability Law was “clearly designed,” and therefore the Knesset (the Israeli legislative body) abused its powers when it approved the amendment to the law.
With the amendment, the ruling coalition attempted to prevent the Attorney General from declaring Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a conflict of interest due to the ongoing criminal proceedings against him, thus obliging him to resign if he deals with controversial legislation that transforms the legal system and the courts. Critics of the law change say reforming the judiciary could affect Netanyahu's trial, which would constitute a conflict of interest with his office.
Comprehensive analyses, world-changing questions, and visions for the future in one volume.
Follow Index on Facebook too!
