Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appointed Blue and White leader Benny Gantz as justice minister in the current transitional government, as the nomination was approved by phone-in vote midafternoon Wednesday.
Netanyahu stated that he had detailed legal arguments to counter those of the High Court and Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit, who both maintained his prior actions concerning the justice minister appointment were against the law.
Late Tuesday night, the High Court froze Netanyahu’s attempt to appoint Likudnik and Regional Cooperation Minister Ofir Akunis as justice minister.
Moreover, Netanyahu’s statement explained that his agreement to appoint Gantz was a way “out of the deadlock,” even if he thought he could defend his legal position blocking the Blue and White leader.
On Tuesday, following a stormy cabinet meeting, the Likud and its allies voted to appoint Akunis, despite Mandelblit’s ruling that the vote was illegal as Blue and White had not consented to it.
The meeting itself came about under pressure from Mandelblit, the High Court and Gantz following the post’s four-week vacancy.
On his part, Gantz filled the post for a temporary three-month period until the start of April, but Netanyahu has blocked his Blue and White Party from filling it permanently ever since.
“We followed through on our pledge to stop Bibi’s plan, and will continue to protect democracy,” Blue and White said in a statement on Wednesday afternoon.
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