A Dollop of Autocracy

Something alarming is happening to Benjamin Netanyahu: he’s autocratizing.  I wish I were exaggerating.  Here’s Ynet:

The government on Sunday approved amendments to its protocol which expand Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s powers in an unprecedented manner in the backdrop of the Iran strike debate. Under the new protocol, the prime minister will have the power to delay motions passed by ministerial committees and the option to decide government voting orders.

The prime minister's bureau explained that the move is meant to "improve governance." In effect, the amendments mean that Netanyahu would be able to easily secure a majority for fateful decisions.

To be clear: Netanyahu can now a) delay ministerial committee decisions’ implementation and schedule further discussion on those decisions, b) sit in on every committee meeting (will he sway votes? You tell me.) and consequently, in the words of Labor Party Chairwoman Shelly Yachimovich, c) "Fateful decisions on political, security-related and socio-economic issues could be reached without meaningful discussion in the government.”

His ministers are up in arms, his lawyer is nervous, and Iran is waiting.