MKs vote down bill allowing Knesset to override High Court

5 August 2020, 1:54 pm

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Lawmakers overwhelmingly vote down a bill that would limit the High Court of Justice’s power to strike down laws, with MKs from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party staying away from the vote.

The vote on the bill, backed by Yamina MK Ayelet Shaked, is 71 against to 5 in favor.

MKs from the coalition’s Blue and White, Shas and United Torah Judaism all voted against the proposal, which would allow the Knesset to override High Court decisions.

Coalition whip Miki Zohar of Likud, who had said he’d tell Netanyahu to support the bill, announced earlier today that MKs from the party would be absent from the plenum for the vote, as voting for it would likely trigger elections due to Blue and White’s opposition.