Justice Minister Gideon Sa’ar revealed the draft of his ministry’s term-limits bill on Tuesday.
"The responsibility to limit term is part of the new political platform and was involved in the baselines of the government," said Sa'ar.
"A prolonged rule brings with it a concentration of power and risk of corruption. Therefore, the term limitation principle needs to be included in the Base Law."
The eight-year limit for prime ministers is not retroactive, which means opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu can still be prime minister for eight more years. He is the only living Israeli who has served eight years as prime minister.
But by the end of the month, Sa’ar intends to present a second bill that would prevent anyone indicted from forming a government.
That bill, which would take effect with the next Knesset, would rule out Netanyahu.
"The one person in the country who the bill doesn't apply to is Benjamin Netanyahu," said Gaby Lasky (Meretz), calling it a personal bill.
Defense Minister Benny Gantz reacted to the bill on social media, tweeting, "Blue and White submitted the bill, which is a fundamental part of the party's platform, in every one of the recent Knesset forums." He congratulated Sa'ar on the move, adding, "We will do everything necessary so that the bill passes and becomes a law of the State of Israel."
Former party ally of Benny Gantz, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, joined the congratulations. "This is an important law that will keep the leadership clean of corruption," said Lapid.