Israel's Supreme Court has tackled the question of whether a political deal to form a coalition government after three inconclusive elections in less than a year is actually legal.
A ruling against the pact could leave Israelis facing a fourth poll.
Under the proposed three-year agreement between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and election rival Benny Gantz, each man would head the government for 18 months.
But eight petitions have been sent to the court, urging it to declare the deal illegal. One of the petitions was sent by Yair Lapid, head of the opposition party Yesh Atid and a former ally of Mr Gantz.
On Sunday, the court spent seven hours hearing other challenges to Mr Netanyahu serving another term as prime minister, based on the fact he faces corruption charges.
Some commentators say that tactic is unlikely to succeed in light of comments from Israeli Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, who said there was no legal basis to prohibit Mr Netanyahu from taking office.
But Mr Mandelblit said "certain arrangements in the coalition agreement raise major difficulties", although he said there were no grounds to throw out the whole accord.
"Today ... the court will dive into the details of the coalition agreement – and this is where the decision that will bring about a fourth election could be made," Tova Tzimuki wrote in Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot.
"The disqualification of any one section of the agreement ... will cause the unprecedented legal construction on which it is supposed to be based to wobble."
The arguments are being heard by a panel of 11 judges, who are wearing face masks and are divided by perspex panels as part of measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Proceedings are being streamed live on the court's website.
A ruling is expected by Thursday, the deadline for forming a government under electoral law.
Mr Netanyahu is charged with accepting improper gifts and illegally trading favours in exchange for positive media coverage.
He denies wrongdoing and his trial is set to begin on May 24.
Israeli law bars an indicted person from serving as an ordinary Cabinet minister, but does not compel a criminally charged prime minister to leave office.
The main argument against the coalition deal concerns specific provisions that opponents say breach the law.
The agreement would allow Mr Netanyahu to serve as prime minister for 18 months, with Mr Gantz as his "alternate", a new title in Israeli governance.
The men will swap roles midway through the deal before likely taking voters back to the polls in 36 months.
But Israeli law traditionally endows governments with four-year terms, an issue pounced on by opponents of the deal.
There is also a provision freezing certain public appointments during the government's initial six-month pandemic emergency phase, which critics also say is illegal.
Mr Mandelblit, who indicted Mr Netanyahu, recommended problematic provisions were reviewed "at the implementation stage".
US Industrial Market figures, Q1 2017
Vacancy Rate 5.4%
Markets With Positive Absorption 85.7 per cent
New Supply 55 million sq ft
New Supply to Inventory 0.4 per cent
Under Construction 198.2 million sq ft
(Source: Colliers)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance: the specs
Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 plus rear-mounted electric motor
Power: 843hp at N/A rpm
Torque: 1470Nm N/A rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.6L/100km
On sale: October to December
Price: From Dh875,000 (estimate)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
In the Restaurant: Society in Four Courses
Christoph Ribbat
Translated by Jamie Searle Romanelli
Pushkin Press
Tailors and retailers miss out on back-to-school rush
Tailors and retailers across the city said it was an ominous start to what is usually a busy season for sales.
With many parents opting to continue home learning for their children, the usual rush to buy school uniforms was muted this year.
“So far we have taken about 70 to 80 orders for items like shirts and trousers,” said Vikram Attrai, manager at Stallion Bespoke Tailors in Dubai.
“Last year in the same period we had about 200 orders and lots of demand.
“We custom fit uniform pieces and use materials such as cotton, wool and cashmere.
“Depending on size, a white shirt with logo is priced at about Dh100 to Dh150 and shorts, trousers, skirts and dresses cost between Dh150 to Dh250 a piece.”
A spokesman for Threads, a uniform shop based in Times Square Centre Dubai, said customer footfall had slowed down dramatically over the past few months.
“Now parents have the option to keep children doing online learning they don’t need uniforms so it has quietened down.”
Glossary of a stock market revolution
Reddit
A discussion website
Redditor
The users of Reddit
Robinhood
A smartphone app for buying and selling shares
Short seller
Selling a stock today in the belief its price will fall in the future
Short squeeze
Traders forced to buy a stock they are shorting
Naked short
An illegal practice
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
'Operation Mincemeat'
Director: John Madden
Cast: Colin Firth, Matthew Macfayden, Kelly Macdonald and Penelope Wilton
Rating: 4/5
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Company profile
Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space
Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)
Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)
Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution)
Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space
Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019
Tips for SMEs to cope
- Adapt your business model. Make changes that are future-proof to the new normal
- Make sure you have an online presence
- Open communication with suppliers, especially if they are international. Look for local suppliers to avoid delivery delays
- Open communication with customers to see how they are coping and be flexible about extending terms, etc
Courtesy: Craig Moore, founder and CEO of Beehive, which provides term finance and working capital finance to SMEs. Only SMEs that have been trading for two years are eligible for funding from Beehive.
The rules of the road keeping cyclists safe
Cyclists must wear a helmet, arm and knee pads
Have a white front-light and a back red-light on their bike
They must place a number plate with reflective light to the back of the bike to alert road-users
Avoid carrying weights that could cause the bike to lose balance
They must cycle on designated lanes and areas and ride safe on pavements to avoid bumping into pedestrians
How to help
Donate towards food and a flight by transferring money to this registered charity's account.
Account name: Dar Al Ber Society
Account Number: 11 530 734
IBAN: AE 9805 000 000 000 11 530 734
Bank Name: Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank
To ensure that your contribution reaches these people, please send the copy of deposit/transfer receipt to: juhi.khan@daralber.ae
Profile of Udrive
Date started: March 2016
Founder: Hasib Khan
Based: Dubai
Employees: 40
Amount raised (to date): $3.25m – $750,000 seed funding in 2017 and a Seed round of $2.5m last year. Raised $1.3m from Eureeca investors in January 2021 as part of a Series A round with a $5m target.
MIDWAY
Produced: Lionsgate Films, Shanghai Ryui Entertainment, Street Light Entertainment
Directed: Roland Emmerich
Cast: Ed Skrein, Woody Harrelson, Dennis Quaid, Aaron Eckhart, Luke Evans, Nick Jonas, Mandy Moore, Darren Criss
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
