Israeli opposition leaders fiercely criticized a proposed coalition bill that would repeal the criminal offense of fraud and breach of trust, a charge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is currently facing in his ongoing corruption trial.
Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid called the legislation a “full-fledged coup,” warning it would fundamentally undermine Israeli democracy.
“The coalition has declared war on a democratic, developed Israel,” Lapid wrote on X. “This is not reform. It is an attempt to turn Israel into a corrupt non-democracy.” He vowed his party would fight the bill in the Knesset, the courts, and the streets.
Democrats party chair Yair Golan used even harsher language, describing the proposal as a “mafia-like move” by a government seeking to evade accountability.
“The message to the public is clear,” Golan said. “Deceiving and betraying public trust becomes acceptable as long as power is preserved.” He warned that repealing the offense would normalize corruption and erode the rule of law.
Netanyahu is currently on trial for multiple corruption-related charges, including fraud and breach of trust. Supporters of the proposed legislation argue the offense has been applied too broadly, while critics say the timing exposes its true purpose.
Opposition leaders called on the public to resist the bill, framing it as a defining test for Israel’s democratic institutions and judicial independence.
