Status: 02/21/2023 01:11 am
Israel’s new ultra-right government has pushed ahead with its plan to weaken the judicial system. Parliament approved part of the controversial judicial reform at first reading. Tens of thousands of people protested nationwide.
In Israel, the highly controversial judicial reform of the government around Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has cleared a first hurdle in parliament. The draft was approved in a first reading on Tuesday night. This was preceded by a debate in the Knesset that lasted more than seven hours and lasted until after midnight.
Netanyahu was able to push through two reforms with his absolute majority of 64 of the 120 seats in the Knesset: one strengthens the government’s influence in selecting judges, the other restricts the powers of the Supreme Court to overturn laws. The changes are intended to end the interference of an unrepresentative Supreme Court in politics, the government said.
A total of three readings are required to pass the law, which will probably take several months. However, the first reading and vote is seen as a sign of the coalition’s determination to continue the process that sparked one of the country’s biggest domestic political crises.
Tens of thousands demonstrate against the restructuring of the judiciary
The vote was accompanied by renewed protests across the country. Tens of thousands of people gathered in cities like Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa. In the early hours of the morning, demonstrators blocked central roads in the country.
People also gathered in front of the Knesset in Jerusalem. “We are fighting for the future of our children, for the future of our country,” said opposition leader Jair Lapid at a meeting with members of his party in the parliament building. “We have no intention of giving up.”
Polls have shown that most Israelis want reforms to slow down to allow dialogue with critics – or do not want reforms.
Netanyahu insists on reform
Netanyahu accused the protesters of inciting violence. “The people have exercised their right to vote, and the people’s representatives will exercise their right to vote here in the Israeli Knesset. That’s called democracy,” he told his Likud party. The demonstrators would “trample democracy”.
The aim of the controversial judicial reform is to enable Parliament to overturn decisions of the Supreme Court with a simple majority. Politicians should also be given more influence in the appointment of judges.
The government argues the reform seeks to overhaul a judicial system that gives the government’s courts and legal advisers too much say in legislation.
People dressed as characters from the television series “The Handmaid’s Tale” demonstrated in Tel Aviv.
Image: AFP
There were also protests in front of the Knesset in Jerusalem.
Image: EPA
Criticism: Separation of powers is abolished
Critics argue that the reform will eliminate the separation of powers and give the prime minister more power. Israeli President Izchak Herzog called on the government to put legislation on hold and seek a compromise with the opposition.
Tens of thousands of Israelis had recently protested in cities every week, with around 100,000 people gathering in front of the Knesset in the past week alone. The USA, Israel’s most important ally, also warned against the reform.
“Recognize that you should look for broad majorities”
Meanwhile, Federal Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann visited the country for the first time since the Israeli government was sworn in. The FDP politician found warning words without mentioning the proposed law directly.
“Learning from history means recognizing that you should look for broad majorities if you want to change the rules of the game of democratic competition and the interaction of constitutional bodies,” said Buschmann at an exhibition opening in Tel Aviv. In Germany, amendments to the Basic Law are only possible with a two-thirds majority in the Bundestag and Bundesrat. “That usually only succeeds if large sections of the opposition are also convinced of the need for change.”