Israeli parliament passes 1st reading of bill that would limit chances of prime minister being impeached

By Zain Khalil

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Israeli parliament has passed at its first reading a bill that limits the chances of a prime minister being impeached.

The bill was passed on late Monday by a majority of 61 to 51 out of 120 members of the Knesset, according to Israeli TV Channel 12.

The bill needs to pass three readings in the Knesset in order to become effective.

The draft law stipulates that the prime minister can only be removed if he is considered physically or psychologically incapable of performing his duties.

According to the bill, it would be possible to declare the prime minister dismissed only by a majority of 90 members of the Knesset.

Notably, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Knesset member Yuli Edelstein did not attend the voting session. Both are members of the Likud party led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Since May 2020, Netanyahu has been on trial in three corruption cases. Netanyahu’s government has proposed a judicial overhaul plan that has triggered mass protests across Israel for more than 10 weeks.

The change would severely limit the power of the Supreme Court of Justice, give the government the power to choose judges and end the appointment of legal advisers to ministries by the attorney general.

Netanyahu has insisted his plan would enhance democracy.

*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat