Israeli parliament passes law limiting judicial oversight, ignites nationwide protests
Jerusalem, July 11 (EFE).- Israel’s parliament early Tuesday approved a contentious bill that restricts the Supreme Court’s oversight powers, triggering widespread protests.
The controversial reform abolishes the doctrine of reasonability, which allowed the Supreme Court to review and overturn government decisions.
The bill is part of the judicial reform agenda promoted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ultra-right-wing government.
During the parliamentary session, hundreds of anti-reform protesters gathered outside the Knesset in Jerusalem, with some attempting to breach the premises.
With 64 votes in favor (all members of the ruling coalition) and 56 against, the bill passed after a tumultuous plenary session that extended beyond midnight.
Following the vote, opposition lawmakers expressed their disapproval, while coalition members celebrated the victory.
Simcha Rothman, the head of the Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee and a prominent figure driving the reform, is preparing the final version of the bill for the second and decisive reading, expected to take place before the parliament’s summer recess begins on July 31.
This marks the first approval of a bill related to judicial reform since Netanyahu suspended it in March due to protests and a general strike. The suspension aimed to facilitate a dialogue with the opposition, which ultimately failed in June.
In response to the bill, the protest movement has organized strikes and demonstrations across the country. The protests have already commenced with street and road blockades.
Protesters have planned major demonstrations at Ben Gurion International Airport, outside the US Embassy in Tel Aviv, and in front of the prime minister’s residence in Jerusalem. The demonstrations will culminate in a large nighttime gathering on Kaplan Avenue in central Tel Aviv.
Before the vote, Netanyahu assured that the rights of the courts and Israeli citizens would not be harmed in any way. “The courts will continue to scrutinize the legality of decisions and official appointments.”
Although the Supreme Court will still have the power to overturn government decisions based on other grounds such as disproportionality, discrimination, and illegality, many jurists consider reasonability as a vital safeguard for the separation of powers in a country where the executive and legislative branches overlap.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid accused the coalition of eliminating the provision to pursue “corrupt and self-serving objectives.”
Lapid argued that the reform enables “a convicted criminal to be appointed as a minister,” referring to ultra-Orthodox leader Aryeh Deri, whose appointment as Minister of the Interior and Health was revoked by the Supreme Court in January. Deri had been disqualified a year earlier for alleged tax evasion.
Justice Minister Yariv Levin, the architect of the reform, maintained that the law “does not place the government above the law” but allowed legislators to implement policies that have received popular support.
Hours before the vote, President Isaac Herzog called on the parties to return to the negotiating table, as he believed that “an agreement is possible,” despite the failure of the facilitated dialogue.
Another opposition leader, Benny Gantz, who currently leads the electoral polls, expressed readiness to resume negotiations and cautioned that the law could be the “start of a dangerous process to eliminate judicial review and governmental checks.” EFE
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Protesters against overhaul block roads
across the country after bill passes 1st vote
42 detained; police use water cannons to clear Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway, 1 injured; clashes as dozens of roads blocked after bill to curb judicial oversight passes 1st reading
By TOI STAFF
Protesters block the Tel Aviv-Haifa highway near Beit Yanai during a protest against the judicial overhaul, July 11, 2023 (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
Police use a water cannon to disperse demonstrators blocking a highway leading to Jerusalem, July 11, 2023 (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Demonstrators block a road and clash with police during a protest against the judicial overhaul on Route 1, near Ein Hemed, July 11, 2023. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
Police officers disperse demonstrators against the judicial overhaul blocking a highway leading to Jerusalem July 11, 2023 (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Police deploy water cannons against demonstrators against the judicial overhaul on Road number 1, near Ein Hemed, July 11, 2023 (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
Demonstrators block a road and clash with police during a protest against the judicial overhaul on Route 1, near Ein Hemed, July 11, 2023. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
Protesters block Route 1 to Jerusalem, near the Hemed junction (Barak Dor)
Police deploy water cannons against demonstrators against the judicial overhaul on Road number 1, near Ein Hemed, July 11, 2023 (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
Demonstrators against the judicial overhaul block a main road at the entrance to Haifa, July 11, 2023. (Shir Torem/Flash90)
Police officers disperse demonstrators against the judicial overhaul blocking a highway leading to Jerusalem July 11, 2023 (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Demonstrators against the judicial overhaul block a main road at the entrance to Haifa, July 11, 2023. (Shir Torem/Flash90)
Demonstrators block a road and clash with police during a protest against the judicial overhaul on Route 1, near Ein Hemed, July 11, 2023. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
Police say dozens arrested since the early morning hours when protesters blocked main roads around the country after the coalition passed the first reading of a bill curbing judicial oversight of government
Israel police said on Tuesday that since protests began in the early morning hours, at least 42 people were arrested after clashing with the forces and violating public order. protesters blocked major routes around the country including the entrances to Tel Aviv, Haifa and Jerusalem as demonstrations spread to more locations after the coalition passed the first reading of a bill to limit the power of the Supreme Court to rule on decisions of the executive branch. The bill passed the first stage of legislation late on Monday with a 64 to 56 majority vote.
A 40-year-old protester was hurt by a police water cannon in Jerusalem and was taken to hospital for treatment another protester was wounded in Tel Aviv.
Police use water cannon to remove protesters from a major highway near Jerusalem
(Photo: EPA)
Arnon Bar David, chairman of the Histadrut, Israel's largest labor union called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt his legislative push although he would not commit to joining the protests. "Stop this mad chaos," he said, speaking in Tel Aviv.
Protesters outside the Supreme Court in Jerusalem
(Photo: Dor Fazuelo)
Hundreds of doctors and medical professionals wearing white robes gathered to demonstrate in Tel-Aviv under a banner claiming the legislation has caused a medical emergency. "There is no human medicine or compassion in a dictatorship, Professor Doron Kopelman, Head of the surgical department at the Technion said. Medical teams at the Rabin Medical Center in Petach Tikva, also walked out to join the protest.
Protesters block main Tel Aviv thoroughfare
Some 300 cyber experts said they are no longer willing to volunteer to serve in the IDF, Shin Bet and Mossad out of concern that the government will make ill use of the powerful cyber tools at Israel's disposal. "This criminal government threatens the basis of democracy," they said. Their protests joins hundreds of other volunteers in the IDF reserves from elite and fighting units who have said they would not serve a dictatorship.
Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar (Likud) said the protests are anarchy. "The protesters chose to break the law. That is not democracy," he said adding he does not think there is a need to return to talks with the opposition to find common ground. "Today's protests motivate us to continue with the legislation," Zohar said.
Police officer pushes protester resisting peacefully
(Photo: Motti Kimchi)
The main demonstration will take place at the Ben-Gurion International Airport, Israel's main gateway, at 4 pm. Some 84,000 people are expected to pass through the airport on 499 flights. The Airport Authority said it had made preparations to deal with the tens of thousands of expected protesters and would bar them from entering the main terminal building.
Protesters greet arrivals at Ben Gurion airport
(Photo: Roy Rubinstein)
Protests will also be held in airports around the world including New York City, San Francisco, Washington, Seattle, London, Paris Munich, Frankfurt, Madrid, Amsterdam and Zurich. Activists in Israel's UnXeptable Movement of ex-pats opposed to Israel's government will hand out leaflets explaining their concerns that Israel was turning away from a democratic regime.
Protesters block road leading to Tel Aviv
(Photo: Moshe Schiff)
Main routes leading into cities and on major highways will also see demonstrators from the early morning hours to protest the government's push to pass the judicial overhaul.
Police deploy crowd control measures on the road to Jerusalem
(Photo: Reuters)
The protests have been taking place for the past 27 weeks since Justice Minister Yariv Levin announced the government's plan.
Protesters march in Haifa
(Photo: Lior El Hai)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the bill does make Israel undemocratic. "It is not the end of democracy, it strengthens democracy," Netanyahu said in a video statement as the Knesset debated the bill. "Even after the amendment court independence and civil rights in Israel will not be harmed in any way. The court will continue to oversee the legality of government action and appointments," Netanyahu said.
The Ayalon Highway leading into Tel Aviv blocked by protesters
(Photo: Aviv Atlas)
He opted to forge ahead with the legislative push despite being criticized by leaders across the world and especially in Washington, where he has yet to be invited to meet with U.S. President Biden. In an interview on Sunday, Biden called Netanyahu's coalition the 'most extreme' he has ever seen in his decades of support for Israel.
'Dictatorship not allowed' - a sign on a major highway
After Biden came under attack for "intervening in Israel's internal matters," by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, his outgoing ambassador Tom Nides said the president cannot stand by while Israel was "going off the rails."
First published: 07:28, 07.11.23
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