Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu called Monday “a necessary democratic step” the approval by Parliament of a key measure of the controversial judicial reform carried by his right-wing government.
“This step aims to restore a balance between powers (…), we voted [cette mesure] so that the elected government can carry out a policy in accordance with the decision of the majority of the citizens”, affirmed Benyamin Netanyahou during a televised address.
“Shame, shame! »
The measure voted in Parliament on Monday aims to limit the possibility for the Supreme Court to invalidate a government decision. It was approved by the 64 MPs of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s coalition, out of a total of 120. Opposition MPs boycotted the vote, some shouting “shame, shame! “.
Benjamin Netanyahu, 73, took part in the vote after being released from the hospital where he had been admitted for the insertion of a pacemaker. The police had shortly before dispersed with water cannons hundreds of people who were blocking the entrance to the Parliament in Jerusalem.
Huge protest movement
After the vote, police tried to evacuate protesters who were blocking roads in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Since its announcement in January, the justice reform bill has sparked one of the biggest protests in Israel’s history, which intensified as the vote approached.
The measure voted on Monday, the first of the reform to become law, prevents the Supreme Court from invalidating a government decision by judging its “reasonableness”. It was approved at first reading on July 11.