JERUSALEM — Israel’s Supreme Court refused to bar Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu from forming a government, unanimously ruling
Wednesday that it had no legal grounds to do so and rejecting
petitions that sought to disqualify him because he faces
prosecution on felony corruption charges.
The court also upheld the coalition agreement between Netanyahu
and Gantz, which will require new legislation. A group of
non-profit advocacy organizations had challenged the legality of
the deal.
“We did not find any legal reason to prevent Netanyahu from
forming a government,” the court said.
Netanyahu and Gantz declared that they hope to swear in the new
government May 13.
In a decision issued after 11 p.m., the high court also declined
to block an unusual power-sharing arrangement that Mr. Netanyahu
struck with Benny Gantz, the former army chief who challenged him
in three straight elections before joining forces with him to avoid
a fourth ballot, citing the emergency posed by the coronavirus
pandemic.
This is a developing story.
JERUSALEM — Israel’s Supreme Court refused to bar Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu from forming a government, unanimously ruling
Wednesday that it had no legal grounds to do so and rejecting
petitions that sought to disqualify him because he faces
prosecution on felony corruption charges.
The court also upheld the coalition agreement between Netanyahu
and Gantz, which will require new legislation. A group of
non-profit advocacy organizations had challenged the legality of
the deal.
“We did not find any legal reason to prevent Netanyahu from
forming a government,” the court said.
Netanyahu and Gantz declared that they hope to swear in the new
government May 13.
In a decision issued after 11 p.m., the high court also declined
to block an unusual power-sharing arrangement that Mr. Netanyahu
struck with Benny Gantz, the former army chief who challenged him
in three straight elections before joining forces with him to avoid
a fourth ballot, citing the emergency posed by the coronavirus
pandemic.
This is a developing story.