Ministers back bill setting term limits for PMs

Justice Minister Gideon Sa'ar leads a New Hope faction meeting at the Knesset on November 8, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
Justice Minister Gideon Sa'ar leads a New Hope faction meeting at the Knesset on November 8, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

The Ministerial Committee for Legislation unanimously approves a bill setting term limits on the premiership.

Now with government backing, the proposal — which would limit prime ministers to eight years in office — must clear three Knesset plenum readings before becoming law.

Justice Minister Gideon Sa’ar, the bill’s sponsor, hails the vote.

“Term limits (instead of a term with limits) are an important principle at the foundation of the perception that the government works for the wellbeing of the citizens instead of itself and its survival,” Sa’ar writes on Facebook.

If passed into law, the bill will not be retroactive and thus not bar former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu from running to regain the premiership.

Sa’ar is also seeking to advance legislation that would prevent anyone under serious indictment from forming a government, which would apply to Netanyahu. The ex-premier is under indictment in a trio of graft cases. He denies wrongdoing.

Most Popular
If you’d like to comment, join
The Times of Israel Community.
Join The Times of Israel Community
Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Confirm Mail
Thank you! Now check your email
You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community! We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.