Coalition heads ‘shocked’ by High Court decision to hear petition on PM’s removal

In a joint statement, the heads of coalition parties attack the High Court’s decision to hear a petition demanding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu be removed from office for allegedly flouting the conflict of interest agreement he signed amid his ongoing corruption trial.

The agreement, which Netanyahu signed with former attorney general Avichai Mandelblit, requires him to avoid involvement in judicial legislation that could affect the outcome of his cases.

Judge Ruth Ronnen ruled today that the petition will be examined by a panel of justices in the near future.

“An extremist political group led by [former IDF chief] Dan Halutz is trying to remove a sitting prime minister, elected by a huge majority in democratic elections, with a baseless petition,” the coalition chiefs say, in reference to the group that filed the appeal.

“We are shocked by the decision to hear the petition, particularly after the Knesset passed legislation that prevents the removal of an elected prime minister with such false claims. This is a slippery slope [that could cause] grievous harm to democracy and the will of the people.”