Sources on the left again asked the High Court to disallow Netanyahu from forming a government on an indictment against him • For the first time, the petition was not rejected outright and a hearing was set in it

Following the agreement between the Likud and the Blue and White to form a national emergency government, High Court Judge Yitzhak Amit ordered the government, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and various factions to respond to petitions filed against the imposition of the government's train on Netanyahu. They must submit their references by Thursday at 2 p.m.

Netanyahu: Trying to drag the High Court into the political field, only the people will decide who will lead

At the center of the petitions in question is the demand to order that a Knesset member accused of offenses with which they are infamous cannot form a government. However, under the law, a prime minister under indictments is allowed to continue in office until a final verdict is reached.

Last January, Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit announced that charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust in 1,000, 2,000 and 4,000 cases will be filed against Prime Minister Netanyahu.

More on:

• Bribery, fraud and breach of trust: The full indictment against Netanyahu

• The petition against Netanyahu was rejected

• "Too early": The High Court has deleted the petition seeking to prevent Netanyahu from forming a government

• The High Court opened the door to the next petition

So far, six petitions have been rejected out of hand on the grounds that they are too early and that only after Netanyahu's mandate is imposed to form the government will it be possible to hold a hearing on the matter. 

Just last week, Supreme Court Judge Alex Stein rejected a petition filed by the High Court of Justice by a group of about 20 security and professors shortly after the announcement by State President Robbie Rivlin to Blue and White Chairman Benny Gantz that he would not extend his mandate government.