High Court suspends Akunis appointment as Justice Minister

Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz / Photo: Knesset Spokesperson Adina Walman , ��

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Earlier today, Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit had said the cabinet vote appointing Netanyahu's Likud colleague as Justice Minister was illegal.

Israel's High Court of Justice has suspended the appointment of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud colleague Ofir Akunis as Minister of Justice. The High Court has given Netanyahu's lawyers until 3.30 pm tomorrow to justify the appointment.

Earlier in the day, Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit had rejected the appointment of Akunis as illegal, for violating the coalition agreement with Blue & White chairman Benny Gantz.

Mandelblit asked the High Court of Justice to issue a temporary injunction suspending the appointment of Akunis, which it agreed to do.

Gantz had been expecting to be appointed Minister of Justice himself today but the cabinet rejected his candidacy by 17-10. Immediately after the vote, Netanyahu asked the cabinet to vote for the Likud's Ofir Akunis as Minister of Justice, which it did.

Published by Globes, Israel business news - en.globes.co.il - on April 27, 2021