Knesset moves to advance bill to bar High Court from intervening in ministerial appointments

The Knesset House Committee votes 10-6 to approve the reestablishment of a special committee to deliberate on a coalition bill to bar the High Court of Justice from intervening in the appointment and dismissal of government ministers.

The Special Committee for Amendments to the Basic Law: The Government will include 9 coalition and 7 opposition lawmakers and will be chaired by coalition whip Ofir Katz, ensuring the advancement of the controversial legislation.

The bill was last advanced by the government in 2023, after the High Court barred Shas leader Aryeh Deri from serving as a minister in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government due to prior criminal convictions, but the process was halted before it could proceed to the second and third readings required to become law.

As the law has passed its initial reading, the government will be able to push it through its second and third readings quickly, completing the process within a matter of days, Kan news reported on Sunday.

Addressing the House Committee, Knesset Legal Advisor Sagit Afik tells lawmakers that since the legal circumstances surrounding parts of the bill have changed since it was shelved, it should not be advanced directly to its final two votes without further deliberations in committee. Afik rebuffs opposition requests to transfer the bill to the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee.

Unlike last time, when it was intended to protect Shas chairman Aryeh Deri, the legislative process will be restarted this time to protect National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, according to multiple reports, as the High Court is examining petitions demanding his dismissal.

Multiple coalition lawmakers and ministers are currently under criminal investigation, including Social Equality Minister May Golan and Knesset Finance Committee Chair Hanoch Milwidsky.