Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu caused a firestorm early Sunday after Justice Minister Amir Ohana banned courts from convening due to the coronavirus-related restrictions, thereby delaying the Israeli leader's corruption trial.
The trial was originally set to begin this Tuesday.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
The measure was announced well after newspapers went to press, and several hours after Netanyahu announced on live television that the Israeli economy was going to dramatically scale down its activity and that all public gatherings would be limited to 10 people, forcing the closure of many institutions, restaurants and other public venues.
Although the courts were not specifically instructed to close, it was widely assumed that they would be affected in some way. Several hours later Ohana's new statute ordering their closure was greeted with scorn and suspicion by Netanyahu's opponents, who accused the prime minister of being the true author of the statute.
This latest development has all but scuttled the possibility of forming an emergency unity government with the left-wing alliance Blue and White.
Blue and White leader Benny Gantz wrote on Twitter: "Netanyahu, don't pull a fast one on the Israeli public. A person who truly wants unity, doesn't scheme to have his trial delayed at 1 a.m. and doesn't just send the media a general plan for a unity government but actually sends a team to meet us. Unlike you, I will continue acting in a non-political way by supporting the government when it makes the right decisions; when you are serious, we can sit down and talk."
Earlier, Netanyahu called on Gantz – who is trying to unseat him by forming a minority government – to put off his political moves for when the global pandemic is contained and Israelis can resume the daily routine.
"This is a global and national emergency. We have to set up a strong and stable government that would be able to pass a budget and make tough decisions, and that is why I have repeatedly sent out an invitation to Gantz and his friends at Blue and White," Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu went on to say that he was willing to form a unity government in which he and Gantz would serve as prime ministers on a rotating basis. Under the plan, Netanyahu would stay at the helm for the next two years, during which Gantz would be the second in command.
