Israel SC begins hearing pleas against Netanyahu forming govt

Jerusalem: The Israel Supreme Court on Sunday began hearing petitions calling to prevent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from forming a new government while facing a criminal trial. An unusually large panel of 11 justices held the proceedings, reports Xinhua news agency. The hearing was broadcast live on the Supreme Court's website and the country's main TV channels. Eight separate petitions were submitted to the court.

Esther Hayut, president of the Supreme Court and chairwoman of the panel, said at the beginning of the discussion that on Sunday, the court will hear the petitions that call to prevent Netanyahu from forming a new government due to his criminal indictment.

On Monday, the court will hear the petitions calling to ban a new unity deal signed between Netanyahu and Benny Gantz, leader of the centrist party of Blue and White, to form a governing coalition.

Under the deal, Netanyahu will continue to serve as the Prime Minister for 18 months before being replaced by Gantz. The deal was signed on April 20 after neither party succeeded in forming a governing coalition in the country's deeply divided 120-member parliament.

If the Supreme Court will rule against the deal, the country might face fourth elections after three rounds of votes in less than a year produced inconclusive results. (IANS) 

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