Justice Minister Gideon Saar is set to submit Nov. 13 to the ministerial committee for legislation a bill limiting the term of office of the prime minister to eight years only. In Israeli politics, eight years represent two terms in office. If approved by the committee, the bill will be transferred to the Knesset for a vote.
Still, even before being presented to the committee, the new legislation is stirring up controversy both in the Knesset and the political system. Saar, currently head of the New Hope party and former senior Likud member, has been pushing this bill for several months now. If approved by the Knesset, the bill won’t be applied retroactively. In other words, it won’t prevent former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from running again for office. Still, together with a second bill, also pushed by Saar, it is targeting Netanyahu’s image as a leader refusing to let go of power.
