The Knesset on Thursday passed its final readings of the amended Basic Law: Government bill clearing the path for the formation of a unity government headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and supported by the Blue & White party under Benny Gantz.
The law was passed with a 72 to 36 majority after the High Court ruled on Wednesday that there was no legal impediment to either Netanyahu's appointment to head a government or his coalition agreement with the Blue & White party that required changes to the existing basic law.
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The Knesset votes on amendments to Basic Law: Government clearing the path for a Netanyahu led coalition
(Photo: Knesset PR)
Likud has begun collecting signatures of Knesset Members who wish to name Netanyahu's to form the new coalition, to be submitted by the end of the day to President Reuven Rivlin who is expected to task the PM with forming Israel's 35th government - expected to be sworn in on Wednesday.
Former Gantz ally and current opposition MK Yair Lapid said Gantz has lied to voters with his support of Netanyahu.
Gantz ran three consecutive election campaigns on the promise that he would refuse to participate in a Netanyahu-led government and that the PM is unfit for the job because he is under criminal indictment for bribery, fraud, and breach of trust.
The office of President Reuven Rivlin announced that the signatures of at least 61 members of the parliament are of great importance and must be submitted to him no later than midnight on Thursday with a letter naming Benjamin Netanyahu as the MK that should be tasked with forming a coalition. The list of signatories will be posted on the Presidential website.
"When the signatures and requests are received, the president will respond," his office said.
Chief Justice Esther Hayut wrote in the High Court ruling Wednesday on petitions to ban Netanyahu from assuming the premiership and on the controversial changes to the Basic Law: Government, that the court refrained from interfering in the process of forming this coalition because such an intervention can come only in extreme cases.
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High Court deliberates petitions against a Netanyahu led coalition
(Photo: Screenshot)
"Our judicial ruling does not diminish the gravity of the charges against Member of Knesset Netanyahu or the difficulty that stems from having a prime minister who is charged with such crimes but according to the law he is innocent until proven guilty." Hayut wrote.
First published: 12:18, 05.07.20