Mallika Dureja
On Sunday, Israeli Cabinet ministers advanced a measure that would allow Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to retain a $270,000 donation from a relative to pay for his legal fees as he fights corruption charges.
The measure is part of Netanyahu’s new government’s proposed overhaul of Israel’s legal system.
In Israel, the proposal has sparked protests for over two months, the largest in years.
Netanyahu has been on trial for nearly three years on allegations of fraud, breach of trust, and accepting bribes.
He denies any malfeasance and asserts that the accusations are part of a “witch hunt” orchestrated by a biassed media, law enforcement, and legal system.
Last year, Israel’s highest court ordered Netanyahu to repay the funds provided by a deceased cousin to cover his and Sara’s legal fees.
Last week, protesters congregated outside a Tel Aviv salon where Sara Netanyahu was getting her hair done, making her a target of the demonstrations.
She was escorted by dozens of police officers out of the salon and away from the jeering throng.
Sunday, the Ministerial Committee for Legislation passed a bill allowing public officials to receive donations for legal or medical expenses, despite the country’s attorney general’s objections that it would promote corruption.
A committee of the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, also advanced legislation to limit the Supreme Court’s power of judicial review and to grant the Knesset the authority to overturn high court decisions.
Allies of Netanyahu argue that these adjustments are necessary to limit the authority of unelected judges.
Critics, however, assert that they will eradicate checks and balances, consolidate power in the hands of the majority, and weaken the Supreme Court. They also assert that Netanyahu has a conflict of interest as a criminal defendant.
These proposals will now be presented to the legislature for the first of three required votes to become law.
