Israel’s High Court allows Netanyahu’s bid to expand government

The High Court Monday issued an interim injunction that struck down an opposition Yesh Atid petition to bar Binyamin Netanyahu’s effort to expand his cabinet beyond the 18-minister limit set by a Basic Law reform enacted by the same party when it served in the last government. Justice Dafhna Barak-Erez indicated that the court endorsed the state’s position that this decision was up to the Knesset rather than the judiciary. The government sought to repeal this legislation to make more room for Likud ministers and their six coalition partners’ requirements. The State Attorney also rejected a bid by the leading opposition party Zionist Union for a ruling that revoking the law required a 70-member majority (Netanyahu’s lineup totals 61 seats).