Mazuz: Government must tread lightly
Attorney general rebuffs motion by Legal Forum for Land of Israel to have cabinet declared transit government; says Olmert's decision to step down does not warrant such action
Attorney General Menachem Mazuz cautioned the government Wednesday, saying that while Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's announcement that he would be stepping down did not turn it into a transit one, it should still exercise due caution in any decisions it makes.
Mazuz's call followed a request made by the Legal Forum for the Land of Israel (LFLI) and Knesset Members Zevulun Orlev (National Religious Party), Yuval Steinitz (Likud) and Limor Livnat (Likud), which was seeking a ruling stating that Olmert's resignation did, in fact, turn the government into a transit government.
Had the Attorney General's Office granted the request, the government would effectively be unable to pursue any diplomatic move, political appointment or legislative motion.
"The prime minister's announcement has brought forth an election atmosphere to the political arena… Replacing the PM entails replacing the entire government, a move which may carry significant changes in the fabric of the coalition," read the LFLI letter.
"We hereby ask you to instruct the prime minister to refrain from moving ahead with any political plan, signing any agreement or giving any assurance which may prove binding to future Israeli governments."
Mazuz stated in his reply that since Olmert did not announce he was resigning per se, but rather said that he would step down once Kadima names a new chairman, his announcement fails to constitute the circumstances under which the president can implement the means necessary to begin forming a new government.
Olmert's announcement, he reiterated, did not turn the government into a transit one.
Mazuz did note that "in light of the prime minister's declared intention to step down the current government will eventually become a transit government. This unique situation compels the current government and its ministers to exercise due caution in their actions."
