Opposition and Arab factions in joint move to block Netanyahu

Opposition party leaders are close to an agreement with Ra'am and the Joint List on a law that would prevent a person indicted for criminal offenses from receiving the mandate to form a government. The move is intended to block Benjamin Netanyahu and will be activated immediately after the elections if the right-wing bloc does not have 61 seats. The law was previously blocked by Ayelet Shaked, but this time it is expected to pass without opposition within the bloc.

Opposition party leaders are close to an agreement with Ra'am and the Joint List to advance a law that would prevent a person indicted for criminal offenses from receiving the mandate to form a government. This is a joint move to block Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is indicted for criminal offenses. According to the emerging agreement, if the right-wing bloc does not have 61 seats after the elections, the parties will work to pass the law immediately upon the swearing-in of the new Knesset, even before forming a government. The law was on the agenda during the Bennett-Lapid government but was blocked by then-Minister Ayelet Shaked, who opposed it. Now, unlike the previous time, the law is expected to pass without opposition within the bloc, with the Arab factions also joining the move. The dramatic implication, according to the article, is that Netanyahu will not be able to receive a mandate to form a government from the president as long as he does not have a majority in the Knesset to reverse the law, even if repeat elections are held. Sources familiar with the details say the understanding reached is that this time there will be no Ayelet Shaked to block the move.