A-G opposes petition to disqualify Netanyahu from being PM

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara opposes the petition to disqualify Benjamin Netanyahu from serving as Prime Minister over an alleged violation of a conflict of interest agreement.

The attorney general stated her position in a letter to the Supreme Court today (Sunday) in response to the court’s hearing on the petition by the Fort Democracy protest group, Maariv reported.

The petitioners, including former IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz, claim that Netanyahu is in violation of a conflict of interest agreement he reached with former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit by involving himself in the efforts to pass and reach a negotiated agreement on the government’s planned judicial reforms.

Last week, Justice Ruth Ronen ordered that the Supreme Court hold a hearing on the petition.

The heads of the coalition parties said in response to Justice Ronen’s order: “An extreme political group led by Dan Halutz is trying to oust an incumbent prime minister who was elected with a huge majority in democratic elections through a baseless petition.”

“We are shocked by Judge Ruth Ronen’s decision to hold a hearing on the petition, especially after the Knesset passed a law that prevents the impeachment of an elected prime minister based on baseless claims of the type included in the petition,” they added.

“This walks down a dangerous slope of causing fatal damage to democracy and the will of the people. We and millions of citizens will not accept this and we will not allow it.”