Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara informed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday that he has violated the conflict of interest agreement that allows him to govern during his ongoing corruption trial.
In a harshly worded letter, Baharav-Miara called Netanyahu statements on Thursday night and any further involvement in the coalition’s judicial overhaul “illegal and tainted by a conflict of interest.”
The letter from the Israeli AG came after Netanyahu announced that he would henceforth ignore the conflict of interest deal and deeply involve himself in the unfolding, deeply controversial judicial overhaul legislation.
The 2020 deal forbade Netanyahu from making senior law enforcement and judicial appointments or getting involved in legislative matters that may impact his ongoing trial on corruption charges. Netanyahu’s announcement Thursday night came hours after the Knesset passed a law designed to shield him from being removed from office for breaking its boundaries.
“In your speech last night, you referred to the initiatives concerning the judicial system, and in particular to the composition of the committee for the appointment of judges, and announced that you are now directly involved in these initiatives,” Baharav-Miara wrote, according to the Times of Israel.
“In doing so, you violated the ruling of the Supreme Court, according to which, as a prime minister accused of crimes, you must refrain from taking actions that give rise to a reasonable fear of the existence of a conflict of interest between your personal interests relating to the criminal proceedings and your role as prime minister,” she wrote.
“Last night you announced publicly that you intend to violate the Supreme Court’s ruling, and to act contrary to the opinion of the attorney general, which obligates you according to this ruling,” she said, concluding that “your statement last night and any further actions by you that violate that agreement are completely illegal and in conflict of interest.”
Baharav-Miara also clarified to Netanyahu that the legislation passed on Thursday shielding him from being removed from office did not nullify his conflict of interest agreement.
The ramifications of Netanyahu’s violations were not immediately clear, but it was possible that he could be held in contempt of court if he continues to violate the order.
Source: Israeli media
