Supreme Court Hearing Held on Fortification Law Petitions
In a landmark eight-hour hearing held today (Thursday) in the Supreme Court, petitions filed against the fortification law were discussed at length. Attorney Uri Keinan, who was present at the hearing, stated in a conversation with “Maariv” that it is evident that the court will not accept the petition and will not repeal the law.
During the hearing, many senior jurists argued that the petition did not meet the entrance threshold of the Supreme Court when it sat as the High Court. Keinan highlighted that the judges’ statements further indicated their reluctance to accept the petition and their inclination to reject it.
The key question at hand, according to Keinan, revolves around whether the court will grant the ombudsman unprecedented power to detain Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. This issue was the center of debate between attorney Aner Halman, who represented the position of the government’s legal advisor Gali Bharve-Miara, and the court’s president Esther Hayut.
Halman stressed that the government, not the ombudsman, has the authority to declare the prime minister as a prisoner according to the law. He also stated that only in extreme situations could a prime minister be taken into custody as a result of their actions following a criminal trial.
President Hayut, in response, emphasized that apart from the ombudsman lacking the authority to declare such matters, the violation of the order of affairs should not lead to impunity.
The petitioners had argued for delayed applicability of the law, claiming it was specifically designed for Benjamin Netanyahu. Keinan pointed out that such a request would require the court to intervene in the legislative field, which goes beyond its jurisdiction.
The hearing drew significant public attention due to its potential implications on the fortification law and its impact on the prime minister. As the court deliberates on the matter, the country awaits the final decision that will shape the future course of action regarding the fortification law.