MK asks Court to reject coalition agreement

Zionist Union MK Erel Margalit says the Prime Minister cannot silence his ministers.

By GIL STERN STERN HOFFMAN
Updated: JULY 9, 2015 02:05
MK Erel Margalit (photo credit: JPOST STAFF)
MK Erel Margalit
(photo credit: JPOST STAFF)
Zionist Union MK Erel Margalit asked the High Court of Justice on Wednesday to cancel a controversial clause in the coalition agreement that prevents MKs in the coalition from opposing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies as communications minister.
By giving himself the portfolio and including the clause, Netanyahu ensured he would have full control over the dismantlement of the Israel Broadcasting Authority and key decisions regarding the fate of the two commercial TV networks, Channel 2 and Channel 10.
Margalit, who intends to run for the Labor Party chairmanship, said he believes the clause is illegal.
“The ministers were chosen in order to act according to their own judgment,” he said.
“A minister cannot be forced to disregard his judgment on an issue as integral to democracy.
Acting according to his judgment is not a privilege but an obligation to maintain the public interest. The media clause changes the ministers into followers of the pied piper prime minister who is acting like a dictator.”
It was the second day in a row that the opposition took Netanyahu to the High Court. Yesh Atid filed a complaint on Tuesday about him holding the Foreign Affairs, Communication, Health, and Regional Cooperation portfolios in addition to his post as prime minister.
Margalit said he was confident the justices would accept his petition, perhaps as early as Thursday.
“This is different from every other clause that has ever been in a coalition agreement,” Margalit said. “It is more general than any commitment made to the haredim. The judges will see that.”