Top court allows Netanyahu to form government despite corruption charges

JERUSALEM－Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's indictment on corruption charges does not disqualify him from forming a government, Israel's top court ruled on Wednesday, paving the way for the veteran leader to remain in power.

In its ruling against opposition petitioners, the court also found that Netanyahu's unity government deal with his election rival Benny Gantz did not violate the law, dismissing arguments that it unlawfully shielded him in a corruption trial.

The ruling removed a critical legal hurdle to the coalition government the right-wing Netanyahu and centrist Gantz plan to usher in next week, following three inconclusive elections in the past year.

It also moved the country closer to ending its political deadlock as it grapples with the coronavirus crisis and its economic fallout.

In unanimous rulings, the 11-justice panel "found no legal basis to prevent Knesset (Israeli parliament) member Netanyahu from forming the government".

But it said the decision "should not be construed as diminishing the gravity of the charges faced by him against public probity, nor the difficulty posed by the tenure of a prime minister accused of crimes".

The court added that Netanyahu had the right to presumption of innocence.

Netanyahu was indicted in January on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. He denies any wrongdoing in all three cases.

Emergency unity

The enormity of the coronavirus pandemic pushed Gantz to backtrack on a campaign pledge not to serve in a government led by a premier facing criminal charges, and instead sign an emergency unity deal with his rival.

Under the terms of the deal, Netanyahu would serve as premier of a new administration for 18 months before handing the reins to 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.

Court petitioners, including opposition parties and democracy watchdogs, had argued that the pact shielded Netanyahu from legal penalties－in part by giving the premier what they saw as undue sway over the outcome of his own corruption trial.

The justices acknowledged that the former rivals' deal was "unusual", but said they had decided "there are no grounds for interference in any of its clauses".

Netanyahu, 70, leader of the right-wing Likud party, has served in his current term as prime minister since 2009. His trial is set to open on May 24.

Agencies - Xinhua