The Yesh Atid party petitioned Israel’s Supreme Court against the Sunday 21 Iyar cabinet decision to increase the number of ministers and deputy ministers in the incoming 34th government. The decision was passed unanimously by the outgoing 33rd government.

The law limiting the number of cabinet ministers to 18 was pushed by Yesh Atid in the last Knesset and the party is now hoping the nation’s High Court will intercede to prevent Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu from undoing that legislation to permit him to appoint additional ministers towards satisfying coalition partners. Lapid calls the decision to push aside the law “cynical politics” and he hopes the court will intercede to prevent this from occurring.

Yesh Atid officials explain the decision to increase the cabinet is “not logical and against the will of voters”. He accuses Netanyahu of trampling rules of proper government to meet his needs, in this case forming a coalition.

10:13 IL: The court rejected the petition calling for a temporary injunction.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)