Israel extends deadline to use spy agency against virus

JERUSALEM - Israel's parliament on Thursday extended a deadline set by the Supreme Court for the government to put forward a bill authorising its controversial use of the domestic security agency to track coronavirus infections.

Meanwhile the Court prepared to hear petitions from advocacy groups seeking to disqualify a newly formed coalition government.

In a ruling on Sunday, Israel's top court had given the government until Thursday to begin "a primary legislative process" that would authorise the Shin Bet's coronavirus surveillance or discontinue it.

But the court ruling also gave the government the option of asking parliament for an extension.

In a meeting on Thursday morning, parliament's foreign affairs and defence committee gave the government until midnight Tuesday to obtain legislative approval without having to discontinue its use of the spy agency.

Committee chairman Gabi Ashkenazi said the cabinet was meeting on the issue on Sunday, and if it decided not to pursue legislation authorising the programme, the surveillance would be halted immediately.

Ashkenazi added that if the government confirmed it wanted to move forward with legislation and requested more time, parliament would consider prolonging the extension.

But he stressed the need to explore alternative technologies for monitoring possible carriers of the novel coronavirus beyond the Shin Bet's methods. Last month, the government authorised the spy agency to monitor citizens' mobile phones under emergency powers to combat the pandemic.

Israel, which has a population of around nine million, announced its first coronavirus patient on February 21.

Since then it has confirmed more than 15,870 cases of COVID-19, with 219 deaths. The health ministry says that more than 8,400 have recovered.

The move came as dozens of protesters rallied outside the Supreme Court against petitions to disqualify Benjamin Netanyahu from serving as prime minister while facing criminal charges.

Around 100 people, many waving Israeli flags and maintaining mandatory social distancing, staged a demonstration against what they called court intervention in the democratic process. They held banners that read “The Supreme Court is ruining democracy” and chanted “the people are the sovereign.”

On Sunday the court is scheduled to hear petitions from several nonprofit advocacy groups against a coalition government deal reached by Netanyahu and his main political opponent, former army chief Benny Gantz.

Gantz had campaigned on a platform focused on removing Netanyahu from power, but the two reached a power-sharing agreement earlier this month after more than a year of political stalemate and three deadlocked national elections.

Gantz said he chose to deal with Netanyahu due to the novel coronavirus, saying Israel needed a functioning government to deal with the outbreak.

Under the deal, Netanyahu and Gantz agreed to share the premiership, with Netanyahu serving as prime minister the first 18 months and Gantz serving the next 18 months. It also includes a clause to advance plans to annex Palestinian territory in the illegally occupied West Bank, including Jewish settlements, starting July 1.

The advocacy groups are asking the high court to ban any indicted politician, including Netanyahu, from being allowed to form a new government.

Netanyahu was charged earlier this year with bribery, fraud and breach of trust. He has denied any wrongdoing and claims the indictments are part of a political witch hunt. His trial is scheduled to begin next month.

If the court rules in favor of the petitioners, the Netanyahu-Gantz deal could unravel, plunging the country into a fourth election in just over a year.