Israel High Court of Justice begins hearing petitions on Incapacitation Law
Breaking story:
The Israel High Court of Justice began hearing petitions against the Incapacitation Law this morning at 10:30 a.m.
Judicial reform opponents claim the law was specially tailored to protect Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from removal from office in relation to his conflict of interest deal due to his trial.
The Incapacitation Law is an amendment to a Basic Law, and stipulates under what conditions the premier can be declared incapacitated from performing his duties.
Hours after the Incapacitation Law passed, Netanyahu announced that he was "entering the arena," directly involving himself in judicial reform issues.
The hearing, which is being live-streamed, is being overseen by Supreme Court President Esther Hayut.
During the hearing, Court President Hayut reprimanded the chairman of the Movement for Quality Government, attorney Eliad Shraga, when he claimed Netanyahu "decided to carry out a coup d'état in the State of Israel."
"Sir, we are asked to start with a legal argument because we are in court. Without a well-founded legal argument, it is impossible to move forward,"Hayut told him.
If the High Court rules against the amendment, it will mark the first time an amendment to a Basic Law has been struck down by the court.
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
