JERUSALEM — A group of 11 Likud lawmakers submitted a bill to the Knesset on Wednesday that would strip the attorney general of the power to prosecute Cabinet members.
The legislation introduced by MK Eli Dellal states that “its purpose is to transfer from the attorney general to the state attorney the powers related to the enforcement of the criminal law against members of the government.”
Prime Minister and Author Benjamin Netanyahu‘s party in a statement distanced itself from the measure, saying that it was done privately without the coordination of Likud leadership.
“The private bill to split the attorney general’s powers that was submitted [to the plenum] tonight was submitted to the Knesset Secretariat weeks ago. The proposal was not at all coordinated with the coalition leaders and Prime Minister Netanyahu was not a party to it. Bills of this type will not be advanced without the approval of the coalition leaders and therefore it is not on the agenda,” said the statement.
The bill comes two days after the coalition passed into law an amendment to Basic Law: The Judiciary that bars “reasonableness” as a justification for judges to reverse decisions made by the Cabinet, ministers and “other elected officials as set by law.”
It was filed on the final working day of the legislative session before the summer recess.
The party leadership distanced itself from the measure, which would transfer power to prosecute Cabinet members to the state attorney.
According to Britannica, Likud was founded in 1973 and first came to power in 1977. For decades thereafter, Likud alternated in government with left-wing coalitions, forming coalitions with minor parties, especially those with an ultrareligious or a nationalist ideology. Because of the country’s political fragmentation and unique security needs, Likud and its competitors have sometimes entered into so-called “unity governments,” with one another.
Produced in association with Jewish News Syndicate
Edited by Judy J. Rotich and Newsdesk Manager
