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Jerusalem
CNN
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Israel’s Supreme Court ordered Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s dismissal this week important allya dramatic move amid an unprecedented confrontation between his government and the judiciary.
The High Court ruled Wednesday by a 10-to-1 ruling that Arie Deli, the leader of the Sephardi ultra-orthodox party Shas, was unreasonable to serve as minister.He has just been appointed Minister of Home Affairs and Health. 3 weeks before judgment.
But so far Netanyahu has taken no action as political tensions escalate. Israeli media reported on Friday that Delhi and Netanyahu were in negotiations over the situation.
Deri has several convictions on record, most recently on taxes. Last year, he struck a plea bargain with the court and served a suspended sentence after resigning from Congress and vowing not to return to public office.
Under Israeli law, a convicted person cannot become a minister.But Netanyahu government .
At Wednesday’s ruling, the judge narrowly focused on Deli’s appointment, even though he claimed Netanyahu would leave political life as part of a deal for a suspended sentence.
But less than a year after the plea deal was struck, Netanyahu was told he now needed to sack Delhi.
“This is a dramatic decision. This decision is directed at the Prime Minister, not Deli,” said Yaniv Roznay, associate professor and co-director of the Rubinstein Center for Constitutional Affairs at Reichman University in Israel. .
Since the ruling, Netanyahu has not responded much, other than going to see Deli and uttering general words of support. CNN reached out to his office for further comment.
“When my brother is in pain, I come to him,” Netanyahu said during a visit to Deli after Wednesday’s sentencing.
In a joint statement on the same day, Netanyahu’s Party Likud “We will act without delay through all legal means available to us to remedy the injustices and serious damage caused to democratic decisions and the sovereignty of our people.”
Deri seems vowed to find a way around the ruling, declaring: They close the windows for us and we break through the ceiling. ”
However, most political and legal experts believe it is highly unlikely that either Netanyahu or Deli will defy court rulings or that Deli will wean the Shas Party from Netanyahu’s coalition.
Yonatan Green, executive director of the Israel Law and Freedom Forum, said at a press conference that he believes Netanyahu is expected to comply with court orders in this case, but that would set the stage for future defiance.
“This kind of series of cases is probably a little bit closer to that particular brink,” Green said.
Therefore, experts say Netanyahu’s sacking of Delhi and taking a tough line through judicial reforms already announced by the government is one of the most likely paths forward.
Deli’s sentencing came amid an ongoing battle. outraged by the judiciaryNetanyahu’s Justice Minister, Yariv Levin, announced a series of judicial reforms in early January. This gives Congress (and, by extension, the political parties in power) the power to overturn Supreme Court decisions, appoint judges, and remove legal counsel from ministries and agencies. binding.
If Congress gets such powers, it could pave the way for Deli to return. But critics say it could also help Netanyahu meet his demise. Ongoing corruption trial. Netanyahu has repeatedly denied in multiple interviews that the changes were for his own benefit.
Proponents of reform have long accused the High Court of excesses and elitism. They say the changes will restore balance between government departments.
But opponents, including former Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Israeli Supreme Court Chief Justice Esther Hayyut, say it will erode Israel’s independent judiciary, weaken checks and balances between departments, and mark the beginning of the end of Israeli democracy. He says that he will write
“If Arie Dehri is not fired, the Israeli government is against the law. A government that does not obey the law is an illegal government,” Rapid tweeted.
About 80,000 people took to the streets of Tel Aviv on Saturday in torrential rain to protest the changes due to these proposed judicial reforms.
Organizers hope the protests will spur the movement and mounting public pressure on Netanyahu to withdraw or limit the scope of the proposed reforms.
United Arab Emirates, India Discuss Non-Oil Trade Solution in Rupees
The United Arab Emirates is in early talks with India to trade non-oil commodities in Indian rupees, Reuters reported, citing UAE Foreign Trade Minister Thani Al Zeyoudi. Quoted Thursday.
- Background: The United Arab Emirates signed a broad free trade agreement with India last year. Along with China, India is one of the largest trading partners for the Gulf Arab oil and gas producers, with most of its currency pegged to the US dollar. While the majority of Gulf trade is conducted in US dollars, countries such as India and China are increasingly demanding payments in their local currency, partly to reduce transaction costs.
- A key reason: Other countries, including China, have also raised the issue of settling non-oil trade payments in local currencies, but the discussion is not at an advanced stage, the minister said. The Chinese president visited Saudi Arabia in his December to attend the Gulf Arab summit and called for oil trade in the yuan as Beijing seeks to establish its own currency internationally. The Saudi Finance Minister said this week that the kingdom would accept transactions in currencies other than the US dollar.
Turkish opposition to announce presidential candidate to challenge Erdogan
Turkey’s opposition coalition will announce a presidential candidate in February to challenge President Tayyip Erdogan’s 20-year rule in elections scheduled for May, Reuters reported Friday, citing an opposition senior official. bottom. The six-party coalition is trying to forge a cohesive platform, but has yet to agree on a candidate to challenge Erdogan in the presidential election.
- Background: Turkey’s two main opposition parties, the secularist CHP and the centre-right nationalist IYI party, have launched a platform to dismantle Erdogan’s presidency in favor of the former parliamentary system. Allied with four minor parties under the
- Why it matters: Turkey is headed for one of the most important votes in the modern republic’s 100-year history, and President Erdogan announced on Wednesday that he and his parliament will meet on May 14, a month ahead of schedule. suggested holding an election.
Kuwait leader releases imprisoned critics to build political cohesion
Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah has been jailed under a new amnesty to end a political feud that has hampered financial reforms as tensions between the new government and parliament surface. Reuters reported that it has pardoned dozens of its critics. He pardoned 34 Kuwaitis, most of whom were convicted of expressing criticism of public opinion.
- Background: Kuwait has the most active parliament in the region and tolerates criticism to a degree unusual for Gulf Arab countries, but the Emir has the final say in national affairs and criticizing him is a jailable offense. The Cabinet on Tuesday expressed hope that the latest pardon, following the amnesty of dozens of political dissidents in 2021 in agreement with opposition demands, will “create an atmosphere of fruitful cooperation”. .
- Why it matters: Opposition MPs made big gains in September’s elections. Tensions resurfaced recently as lawmakers called on the government for a debt relief bill that would allow states to purchase personal loans for their citizens. This is a step taken by past governments, but it comes at a time when oil producers are trying to push through fiscal reforms to strengthen state finances.
Conservative Gulf Arab countries rarely send contestants to international beauty pageants, many of which include segments where women are featured in skimpy swimsuits.
But one contestant from the tiny Gulf state of Bahrain sidestepped that taboo by attending this year’s Miss Universe in New Orleans in a pink burkini swimsuit that covers her arms from the neck down. .
As 24-year-old Evelyn Khalifa walked down the catwalk, she unfurled a cape emblazoned with the Bahraini flag and the word ‘equality’ in Arabic. The English message said:
The pianist and taekwondo black belt told the UAE’s The National newspaper that she decided to take part to “break stereotypes”.
“Arab women are kind, passionate, brave and ready to accept life’s challenges,” she said. “They can be humble beauty queens and shine on the glamorous stage of our time.”
Lebanon was the only other Arab country to send participants. Miss USA won the contest.
