High Court sets September hearing for Netanyahu conflict of interest petition

The High Court of Justice sets an initial hearing for September 12 over a petition calling for the removal of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for allegedly flouting the conflict of interest agreement he signed amid his ongoing corruption trial.

A three-justice panel requests that Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara provide the court by August 20 with an explanation of her earlier statement that her office is dealing with the issue and therefore there is no reason to hold a court hearing.

The conflict of interest 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. Petitioners argue that he has violated the deal with his involvement in the government’s plan to radically overhaul the judicial system.