Israel's Ministerial Committee on Legislation formally advanced a bill on Sunday that could allow Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to keep $270,000 he received from a now-deceased cousin to pay for legal costs as he fights corruption charges.
Last October, the country's High Court ordered the money to be returned on the basis that it amounted to an illicit gift.
Mr Netanyahu has been on trial since 2019 over alleged fraud, bribery and breach of trust. He has labelled his prosecution a political “witch hunt”.
The new bill would significantly change the current laws by allowing public servants to accept donations to cover legal and medical costs, including for family members, provided that the money is used only for those purposes.
The proposal, which was backed by Mr Netanyahu's Likud party, was criticised by Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, who told Justice Minister Yariv Levin on Sunday that it was a “harmful” change that “has the potential to open a real door to government corruption”.
Omer Makayes, director of the Anti-Corruption Movement watchdog, told The Times of Israel that the proposal appeared to be “personally tailored” to help the Prime Minister in his trial.
The move comes after more than two months of fierce local and international opposition to drastic legal reforms that Mr Netanyahu's far-right coalition is seeking to pass in parliament. Opposition leader Yair Lapid recently called on the government to “stop this insane legislation”.
The government says the judiciary has too much power, has a bias against right-wing politics and gives legal officials disproportionate power to interfere with decisions made by the people's elected representatives.
Knesset member Simcha Rothman of the Religious Zionist Party told Israeli media last month that “in the Israeli context [the reforms] might be huge. But when I talk to my [colleagues] across the ocean, they say ‘you’re just stating the obvious’".
No_One Ever Really Dies
N*E*R*D
(I Am Other/Columbia)
Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
FIRST TEST SCORES
England 458
South Africa 361 & 119 (36.4 overs)
England won by 211 runs and lead series 1-0
Player of the match: Moeen Ali (England)
The Indoor Cricket World Cup
When: September 16-23
Where: Insportz, Dubai
Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE fixtures:
Men
Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final
Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final
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States of Passion by Nihad Sirees,
Pushkin Press
Reputation
Taylor Swift
(Big Machine Records)
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
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The%20specs
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The specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: eight-speed PDK
Power: 630bhp
Torque: 820Nm
Price: Dh683,200
On sale: now
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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6.
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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Men from Barca's class of 99
Crystal Palace - Frank de Boer
Everton - Ronald Koeman
Manchester City - Pep Guardiola
Manchester United - Jose Mourinho
Southampton - Mauricio Pellegrino
