Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is still facing three separate corruption charges, has allocated the justice portfolio to himself.
The move effectively leaves Netanyahu in charge of the office that is overseeing three criminal investigations into his affairs.
Israeli Attorney General Avihai Mandelblit has already told Netanyahu that he could not serve as acting Justice Minister because of the bribery indictment he faces, as he plans to indict the PM for fraud, bribery, and breach of trust in three criminal cases.
The move leaves Netanyahu, who has served as Israel’s premier continuously for the last decade, in control of four ministries, including Defense, Health, Education and, now, Justice.
Netanyahu’s decision effectively immunizing himself from the law, has left him open to harsh criticism, as he has effectively put himself in charge of the very officials tasked with scrutinizing his own alleged improprieties.
But Netanyahu’s curious decision to hoard portfolios would seem to result from his hesitation over appointing a religious rival to one post, precisely when he is coming under public criticism for granting too many concessions to religious parties.
It’s not only psychotic that he will serve even for a second as justice minister – he should have been forbidden from even firing the [previous] justice minister, and from hiring a new justice minister.
News Punch / ABC Flash Point News 2019.
