Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Sunday, 21 Iyar, announced Likud ministers will back the so-called Override Clause, which seeks to limit the authority of Israel’s High Court of Justice. He explained the reason he wished to postpone the vote on the bill was to ensure all Likud ministers are on board.

According to a Yediot Achronot report, Likud ministers serving on the Ministerial Law Committee are planning to back the bill as Mr. Netanyahu indicates to be the case. The Bayit Yehudi party has threatened if the bill is not passed into law, it will stop voting with the coalition since the bill is addressed in coalition agreements that were signed by all coalition parties. Bennet insisted the bill would not be postponed again this Sunday, as it was numerous times in the past.

The bill would give the Knesset the authority to overturn a High Court ruling in cases when the court disqualifies Knesset legislation. The bill seeks to bring the power back to the legislative branch by taking from the judicial branch, which elected officials feel has gone amuck, ruling on anything and everything.

There is still dispute over the number of MKs required to overturn a High Court decision. Bennet and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked feel 61, a simple majority is sufficient while others, including Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit feels that number must be a minimum of 70 lawmakers.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)