The Knesset yesterday voted against two bills calling for the establishment of an Israeli constitutional court. One bill, sponsored by MK Eliezer Cohen (National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu), was defeated 56-39 with 4 abstentions, while another, proposed by MK Yigal Bibi (National Religious Party), was voted down by a 59-37 count, with 3 abstentions. Had the bills passed, the new court would have become the top authority in the country on constitutional issues in place of the Supreme Court.
The defeat of the proposed bills was a victory for High Court Chief Justice Aharon Barak. MK Yigal Bibi (National Religious Party) accused Barak of \"blackmailing politicians\" to vote down the bills. Bibi said that in no other properly-run country would the Supreme Court intervene in parliamentary matters.
Among those who voted in favor of establishing the court were Shas MKs, as well as Minister’s Benny Elon (National Union Party) and Avigdor Lieberman (Yisrael Beitenu Party). In a letter to the Likud Central committee, Lieberman accused Likud ministers who opposed the bills of forming an \"unholy alliance\" with Arab MKs on this issue.
Since Sharon’s coalition was officaily in favor of removing the bills, under Israeli law the government ministers who did not vote with the coalition can technically be fired. Cohen said yesterday that he plans to reintroduce similar bills again in six months.
The defeat of the proposed bills was a victory for High Court Chief Justice Aharon Barak. MK Yigal Bibi (National Religious Party) accused Barak of \"blackmailing politicians\" to vote down the bills. Bibi said that in no other properly-run country would the Supreme Court intervene in parliamentary matters.
Among those who voted in favor of establishing the court were Shas MKs, as well as Minister’s Benny Elon (National Union Party) and Avigdor Lieberman (Yisrael Beitenu Party). In a letter to the Likud Central committee, Lieberman accused Likud ministers who opposed the bills of forming an \"unholy alliance\" with Arab MKs on this issue.
Since Sharon’s coalition was officaily in favor of removing the bills, under Israeli law the government ministers who did not vote with the coalition can technically be fired. Cohen said yesterday that he plans to reintroduce similar bills again in six months.