Moral Dead End: Why Israeli Politicians Don't Resign and Rule Even Under Trial

Ynet legal commentator Tova Tzimuki analyzes why Israeli politicians under indictment do not resign and continue to govern. She cites the Deri-Pinhasi and Netanyahu cases, noting that the High Court allowed the indicted prime minister to remain in office. The author discusses the need for an 'Indicted Law' and criticizes the absence of an ethical tradition.

In her column of August 10, Ynet legal commentator Tova Tzimuki analyzes why Israeli politicians under indictment do not resign and continue to govern. She notes that unlike Western democracies, where ethical governance traditions exist, in Israel such matters are resolved through the courts. Tzimuki mentions the Deri-Pinhasi ruling, which established that a minister with an indictment for offenses involving moral turpitude should not hold office. However, in the Netanyahu case, the High Court unanimously allowed the indicted prime minister to remain in office. The author criticizes the lack of legislative regulation and discusses a possible 'Indicted Law' that would determine at what stage of legal proceedings a politician cannot run for office. She also mentions the idea of a 'French law' that would freeze proceedings against a prime minister during their term. Tzimuki concludes that the four-year experience of combining governance with legal proceedings was terrible.