MKs from Yisrael Beytenu have decided to support two bills that, if passed, would deal a blow to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: The bill which would limit a prime minister to two terms in office, was conceived by the left-wing parties on Wednesday and would prevent any MK under indictment from being selected to form a governing coalition.
As recently as November 2019, Yisrael Beytenu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman had a different opinion, saying at the time, "I have no personal motives or vendetta against Netanyahu. In the last election campaign, I said repeatedly that as far as I was concerned, as long as there was no final ruling [against him], the prime minister could continue to serve. When the election was over, a bill was proposed that would prevent any MK under indictment from becoming a candidate for prime minister. I said we were against that because it was a personally motivated bill."
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MK Itzik Shmuli (Labor) said he "welcomed" Lieberman's announcement that his party would be supporting the bill.
"The election results show an anti-Netanyahu majority in the Knesset that is capable of leading a reversal and a victory. We have no intention of being instructed on democracy by someone who is accused of criminal acts and who is working day and night, 365 days a year, to crush it. We are aiming for victory, and not apologizing for it," Shmuli said.
Meretz Chairman Nitzan Horowitz on Wednesday called on Blue and White to form a government on the basis of a law that would prevent a prime minister under indictment from forming a government.
The new Knesset has an absolute majority [62 MKs] that would back a law barring a prime minister facing criminal charges from taking office. That is the right thing do to, politically. It reflects the wishes of the majority of voters and it is also morally appropriate."
As Netanyahu is facing corruption charges in three cases and his trial is set to begin on March 17, the move clearly seeks to block his path to office.
