Report: High Court slated to nix Netanyahu-Gantz coalition deal

The High Court of Justice will likely rule at least parts of the coalition agreement between the Blue and White and Likud parties to be unconstitutional when it meets next week, Channel 13 speculates.

The court will consider arguments against the coalition deal signed on April 20 that critics say violates essential elements of Israel’s constitutional regime.

The hearings, which will be held on Sunday and Monday, are politically charged. The coalition deal between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White leader Benny Gantz states that if Netanyahu is prevented from serving as prime minister, the Knesset will dissolve and call new elections slated for August — which would be the fourth consecutive vote in 16 months.

Likud supporters charge that the court lacks the legal authority to rule against Netanyahu, as Israeli law only requires a prime minister to resign if he or she is convicted of a serious crime and all appeals are exhausted.

The petitioners, however, argue that the law only refers to an already-elected prime minister. A member of Knesset under indictment should not be appointed prime minister in the first place, they are arguing, in keeping with the longstanding standard for other cabinet ministers.