Criticism from the opposition: Israel’s judicial reform clears the first hurdle in parliament

criticism from the opposition
Israel’s judicial reform clears first hurdle in parliament

7/11/2023 2:23 am

Despite ongoing mass protests, the Israeli government is pushing ahead with its controversial judicial reform. A core element of the project receives a majority in the first reading in Parliament. The opposition is sharply critical – critics announce further demonstrations.

The Israeli parliament adopted a core element of the controversial judicial reform in the first reading on Tuesday night. According to the draft law, the Supreme Court will no longer be able to classify government decisions as “inappropriate”. Critics fear that high-ranking positions will be filled arbitrarily and that corruption will be fostered. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government argues that the judiciary is disproportionately involved in political decisions.

After a lively parliamentary debate, 64 MPs voted in favor of the bill, equal to the number of MPs in the governing coalition. The 56 opposition deputies voted against it. A second and third reading is required to pass the law.

The judiciary reform of the right-wing religious governing coalition of conservative, ultra-Orthodox and far-right parties aims to limit the powers of the independent judiciary and strengthen the position of parliament and the prime minister. The project is dividing society – tens of thousands of people have been demonstrating against it across the country since the beginning of the year. Netanyahu then put the plans on hold at the end of March. However, a compromise with the opposition mediated by President Isaac Herzog did not materialize. At the end of June, the two main opposition politicians, Jair Lapid and Benny Gantz, suspended their participation in the talks.

More protests announced

Several hundred opponents of the judicial reform demonstrated in front of the Knesset on Monday. Before the debate started, some demonstrators also entered the Parliament building. Before they reached the plenary hall, security forces dragged them out of the building. The organizers of the protests, which have been going on for months, have announced further mass demonstrations for Tuesday. According to a poll published by Kan TV on Sunday, 31 percent of Israelis support the law and 43 percent oppose it.

In a video published on Facebook on Monday, Netanyahu again defended the controversial reform. It is “not the end of democracy” but will “strengthen democracy”. “The rights of Israeli courts and citizens will not be affected in any way,” assured the head of government. The Supreme Court will continue to “review the legality of government decisions and appointments,” he said.

Lapid, head of the Yesh Atid party, criticized the bill in a speech to parliament. “They promised to help the weak and protect Israel’s security (…), they do nothing but this madness,” said Lapid. The vote in the first reading was about the so-called adequacy clause, which, according to the draft law, the chief justices can no longer make use of in the future. This could affect the appointment of ministers.

Earlier this year, the Supreme Court opposed the appointment of Netanyahu’s preferred minister, Arie Deri. The judges had argued that the appointment as Minister of the Interior and Health was “inappropriate” and therefore invalid because of Deri’s multiple convictions, including corruption and tax evasion. Netanyahu was then forced to dismiss Deri, but accused the court of disregarding the voters’ will.