High Court to debate whether Netanyahu can serve as PM despite indictments

Attorney General Mandelblit is ordered to submit his legal opinion on the matter 48 hours before a pending plenary, despite his attempts to evade the subject unless taken up by court
Yael Freidson, Tova Tzimuki|Updated:
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The High Court of Justice said on Sunday it will debate whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could form a government despite the incumbent being indicted in three different criminal cases.
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    • The court announced it had received and approved a petition signed by 67 different individuals demanding a ruling on whether a Knesset member battling criminal charges can be tasked with forming a government.
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    Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit     Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit
    Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit
    (Photo: Mark Israel Salem)
    Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, who avoided addressing the issue as long as it was solely a theoretical question, has been ordered by the High Court to devise a legal opinion on the matter 48 hours before the court assembles to debate the issue. The plenary is still pending as no date has yet been decided.
    On Friday, Mandelblit refused to rule on the issue, informing the court that he would only issue a legal opinion on the matter if it were to be taken up by the court.
    Last month, Mandelblit ruled that Netanyahu can remain interim prime minister, just days after serving him with charges of fraud, breach of trust and bribery.
    Mandelblit has claimed in the past that he would have preferred it if the issue of Netanyahu's legal standing was debated as a public rather than a legal issue.
    First published: 17:48, 12.22.19
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    3.
    Mr.
    It seems to me that what the anti-American radical left trying to overthrow the duly elected President Trump in the US, the crazy radical anti-Israel left is trying in Israel too. Israel's best Prime Minister, Netanyahu, the man who brought the best security, the best economy ever, the most prosperous life ever in Israel, is under an all attacks with lies, distortions, fake news with the help of the fake Israel mainstream media and the gullible and uninformed Israelis. Sad, very sad to see the most democratic country in the Middle East being demolished by it's own anti-Israel looks! What I can say is this: if the people of Israel will not open their eyes to see the mortal danger coming, they will suffer the consequences of their blindness, and pay a heavy price. Just read the book of Ezekiel, chapters 38 and 39!
    Comrade Putinski| 12.23.19
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    2.
    Has Netanyahu been convicted of any crime
    no? than no.
    C| 12.23.19
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    1.
    Our Supreme Court has no equal in the (Western) world and
    this should tell you about everything about the Dictatorship of the Judges that we're living in.
    12.23.19
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