2023-07-10 22:07:00
The Israeli Knesset approved, on Monday, preliminary approval of a draft law that limits some of the powers of the Supreme Court, as part of proposed judicial amendments that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushed again, despite the continued protest in the occupying country against judicial reforms.
A plan to introduce amendments to the laws of the judiciary, put forward by the ruling coalition of ultra-nationalist and religious parties headed by Netanyahu, sparked unprecedented protests in the occupying country, and raised the concern of its allies in the West about the integrity of democracy in the country and harmed the economy.
The ruling coalition controls 64 of the 120 Knesset seats, and won the first of three ballots needed to pass the new bill into law. Protests are likely to intensify if this happens.
The new bill seeks to limit the powers of the Supreme Court to overturn decisions made by the government, ministers and elected officials. The draft will now be subject to further discussion and could be changed before it is put to a final vote.
Critics believe that judicial oversight helps prevent corruption and abuse of power, while supporters say the amendments would facilitate the effective management of government affairs by limiting the court’s interference in decisions.
“It is not the end of democracy, it strengthens democracy,” Netanyahu said in a video statement released Sunday as the Knesset began debating the bill.
He added, “Even after the amendments, the independence of the court and civil rights in Israel will not be harmed in any way. The court will continue to supervise the legality of government actions and appointments.”
Meanwhile, Israeli protesters gathered in front of the Supreme Court, before marching to the Knesset, at the nearby Central Bank, after its governor, Amir Yaron, urged the government to seek a broad consensus on legalizing judicial amendments to protect institutional independence.
“Continued uncertainty has a significant economic cost,” Yron told reporters, citing an excessive depreciation of the shekel and the weak performance of the Israeli stock market.
Netanyahu, who is on trial on corruption charges, hinted on Sunday that his patience was running out with the renewed demonstrations, while opponents pledged to organize protests throughout the occupation state on Tuesday, one of them at Ben Gurion Airport, in the event that the Knesset approved the first vote on the draft judicial amendments bill.
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