Q&A: Declaring Netanyahu Incapacitated
Declaring Netanyahu Incapacitated
Question
It was reported that Justice Barak-Erez is asking the state to respond regarding the question of Netanyahu’s incapacity following a petition on the matter.
Do you think it would be proper for the court to declare him incapacitated? (I’m not asking what the High Court is likely to rule, but whether in principle it is right to remove him in this way.)
Thank you!!
Answer
Absolutely. Not only is it proper, it is called for. He cannot carry out his role if he adheres to the conflict-of-interest arrangement that he signed.
Discussion on Answer
Right. And by that logic every prime minister is a thief, and we might as well shut down the whole country too. If there is no basic trust in the legal system, there is no point in the discussion. And if the trust in Bibi is greater than in them, then there is even less point in the discussion.
Another option is to declare the trial itself incapacitated.
By that logic, the legal system can neutralize any move against it: you just file an indictment against the prime minister. If he resigns, great; if not, you make him sign a conflict-of-interest arrangement and off he goes.
Years ago, there was a rule in the army that anyone who filed a complaint against a commander could no longer serve under him: if the complaint was serious enough, the commander was transferred, and if it was minor (or completely unjustified), then they transferred the soldier so the commander wouldn’t take revenge on him. A soldier who couldn’t stand his commander found an excellent tool for getting rid of him.
When there are procedures, who needs justice or democracy?