Israeli high court begins hearing petitions against Netanyahu's premiership

According to Press TV, on Sunday, Zionist regime's Supreme Court, in a rare move, appointed an expanded panel comprising 11 of the court's 15 justices to hear petitions demanding that the incumbent premier be disqualified from forming a new cabinet over his criminal charges.

The session was broadcast live due to its significance.

Netanyahu fell short of securing enough seats in the Knesset to form a majority cabinet in three previous elections –in April and September 2019 and in March this year – and ultimately reached an agreement with his close rival, ex-Military Chief Benny Gantz, to form a unity cabinet last month.

Netanyahu, Israel’s longest serving premier, is under criminal indictment in three corruption cases, including bribery, fraud and breach of trust, which could bar him from staying in power.

If convicted of bribery, Netanyahu could face ten years in prison and three years for the other offenses.

Pro-democracy protesters, on Sunday, called on the court to hold the regime to account. The protesters gathered outside the prime minister’s residence in the occupied al-Quds as the court convened. There have been protests against Netanyahu in recent week.

If the court rules against Netanyahu after the two-day hearing, a snap election – a fourth vote since April last year - will be held to help the regime exit the months-long political paralysis as it grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic fallout.    

According to the Netanyahu-Gantz power sharing agreement, Netanyahu will serve as premier of a new cabinet for 18 months before handing the reins to Gantz. 

Although the pact drew support from a majority of the Knesset, several groups, including opposition parties and right watchdogs, have petitioned Israel's Supreme Court to nullify the agreement and prevent Netanyahu from leading the new cabinet, citing his indictment on criminal charges.