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Netanyahu pushes law making it easier to declare war

A law Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to advance would allow the security Cabinet to declare war without approval of the entire government.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, August 13, 2017. REUTERS/Dan Balilty/Pool - RTS1BLBB
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Naftali Bennett, the chairman of HaBayit HaYehudi, sent a series of tweets Aug. 14 in an attempt to stymie a political and media attack on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his effort du jour to bolster his power at the expense of the government and the Knesset.

The preceding day, Channel 2 had aired an exclusive report revealing that over the past few weeks, Netanyahu has been promoting an amendment to the Basic Law Concerning the Government. The proposed provision would allow the prime minister “to declare war or to launch a military operation, without the need for its approval by the government, and in certain cases, without the presence of the entire [security] Cabinet.” According to the report, the new law would be submitted to the Knesset as soon as it returns from recess in October.

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