Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit said Thursday he saw no legal grounds for barring Benjamin Netanyahu from serving as prime minister while facing criminal charges, an announcement that came ahead of a court hearing next week to decide whether to disqualify the embattled leader.
The announcement comes ahead of next week's hearing at the Supreme Court, in its capacity as the High Court of Justice, to decide whether to disqualify the embattled leader.
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A ruling against Netanyahu would plunge the country into a fourth consecutive election in just over a year.
While maintaining the mandatory social distancing, dozens of Netanyahu's supporters rallied outside the court, calling on the judges to reject the petitions."The Supreme Court is ruining democracy" read some of the banners held by the demonstrators.
Several dozen activists from the "Black Flag" group which wants Netanyahu barred from office held a counter-protest nearby.
On Sunday, the court is to hear petitions from several nonprofit advocacy groups asking the high court to ban any indicted politician, including Netanyahu, from being allowed to form a government.
Netanyahu and his main rival, Blue and White Chairman Benny Gantz, reached an agreement earlier this month after more than a year of political stalemate and three elections. The coalition entails a rotating premiership, with Netanyahu serving for the first 18 months and Gantz for the next.
With the exception of the prime minister, Israeli court rulings require public officials to resign if charged with a crime. Netanyahu was indicted earlier this year with bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. He has denied any wrongdoing and claims the indictments are part of a political witch hunt.
His trial is scheduled to begin next month.
