Supreme Court could decide fate of election

The government has asked for an extension of four months beyond Sunday’s deadline for passing a new bill into law.

By GIL HOFFMAN
Supreme Court of Israel (photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)
Supreme Court of Israel
(photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)
The Supreme Court will rule as early as Sunday on the government’s request to extend the deadline for passing a controversial haredi (ultra-Orthodox) enlistment bill.
The government has asked for an extension of four months beyond Sunday’s deadline for passing a new bill into law. Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit has told ministers he does not believe the court will extend the deadline.
Technically, the government would be required from Sunday to enlist all haredim of army age. But legal experts said the government’s appeal made Sunday’s deadline no longer relevant and the court cannot force Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is also defense minister, to abide by the law or initiate an election to avoid implementing it.
The government cited the November 16 resignation of Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman as its reason for seeking the extension. But Likud ministers and MKs have admitted in closed conversations that Netanyahu has no majority for the bill and cannot pass it.