Despite massive opposition, Israel’s parliament has approved a core element of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s controversial reform of the judiciary. After days of debate on Monday, 64 out of 120 MPs voted in favor of a bill that limits the Supreme Court’s scope of action. The opposition boycotted the vote. Meanwhile, protests are spreading across the country.
With the new law, it is no longer possible for the Supreme Court to judge a decision by the government or individual ministers as “inappropriate”. Critics fear that this will lead to corruption and thus the arbitrary filling of important posts and layoffs. The Netanyahu government, on the other hand, accuses the judiciary of interfering too much in political decisions.
Minister: “Correcting the legal system”
Justice Minister Jariv Levin praised the “correction of the justice system”. In a first step, Parliament has regained powers “taken away” by the judiciary. Opposition leader Jair Lapid announced that a petition will be filed with the Supreme Court early Tuesday morning against the “unilateral suspension of the democratic character of the State of Israel”.
Israel does not have a written constitution
The State of Israel has no written constitution and is instead based on a set of fundamental laws. Therefore, the Supreme Court is of particular importance in upholding the rule of law and human rights.
For more than six months, the project has divided large segments of Israeli society. Thousands of people – both supporters and opponents – regularly take to the streets. Opponents of Netanyahu see the separation of powers and thus democracy in danger. Some even warn of the creeping introduction of a dictatorship.
Highway blockade, march to Jerusalem
In the Mediterranean metropolis of Tel Aviv, protesters temporarily blocked a central highway over the weekend. Photos showed objects being set on fire on the road. Angry protesters also disrupted traffic in other cities. Police used water cannon and mounted officers to disperse the crowd. Last week, people even started a march from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. And the number of people participating grew every day. There were hundreds at the start of the approximately 70-kilometer walk, but according to the organizers, more than 10,000 demonstrators took part at the end.
Netanyahu defends judicial reform
Netanyahu already defended his government’s planned weakening of the judiciary last Thursday. Netanyahu dismissed the protesters’ fears as “absurd”. He even spoke of the law as “strengthening democracy”. Changes to the legal text are still possible. However, observers consider this unlikely. Any change would have to be approved again by the Judiciary Commission.
Netanyahu’s coalition is the most right-wing the country has ever had. The law changes are also being pushed through under pressure from Netanyahu’s strictly religious coalition partners. However, according to experts, they could also play into the hands of Netanyahu in a long-running corruption trial against him.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
