Bill aims to limit prime minister to two terms

A new bill aims to limit prime ministers to just two terms in office in an effort to keep refreshing Israel’s political leadership.

The legislation, proposed by MK Merav Michaeli of the opposition Labor Party, comes as Israel gears up for new elections that, according to polls, may see Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu win a fourth term at Israel’s helm.

“It’s very important for a democratic government to switch the personalities at the top of the system, in order to prevent degeneration and detachment,” the bill reads. “Democracy is not a monarchy, and it is vital to not create long years of rule by a single person.”

With the last hopes of keeping alive the current coalition having faded away Monday night amid serious rifts between key members, the bill is unlikely to be presented in the Knesset before the parliament is dissolved ahead of elections.

“When the same person is at the top of the system for a long time there is a danger of ossification and adaptation to his needs instead of the needs of the public,” Michaeli said.

The bill does not seek to restrict how long a political party can remain in power, so as “not to harm what the people want, as long as there is a majority that wants to continue the current policies.”

Michaeli noted that the stipulation that the bill be implemented in a future Knesset term was to remove any suspicion that the legislation constitutes a personal assault on Netanyahu.

In 2013, Netanyahu entered his second consecutive term in office. He previously served as prime minister between 1996 and 1999.

Michaeli pointed out that there is a limit placed on the time in office for a range of top state positions including that of the president, the commander of the IDF, the attorney-general, the governor of the Bank of Israel, and the heads of the Mossad and the Shin Bet security agencies.

“It is fitting that the prime minister should also change once every eight years,” she said.