ISRAEL: The Knesset has granted preliminary approval to a law that restricts the authority of Israel’s Supreme Court, leading to a political crisis. The coalition led by Prime Minister Netanyahu, composed of nationalist and religious parties, has prompted demonstrations and raised concerns about the state of democracy in Israel, as well as impacting the country’s economy.
Netanyahu’s coalition secured three initial votes for the new Knesset measure, which aims to limit the Supreme Court’s ability to deem decisions made by the executive branch, elected politicians, and ministries as unreasonable. The measure will now return to the committee for further debate and possible amendments before final voting.
Critics argue that judicial checks and balances are crucial in preventing corruption and abuse of power, while supporters believe that the reform will facilitate effective governance. Netanyahu contends that the amendment will strengthen democracy and preserve Israel’s civil rights and court independence. The court will still oversee government actions and nominations to ensure their constitutionality.
Amidst the controversy, Bank of Israel Governor Amir Yaron has called on the government to pursue broad agreements on judicial reforms in order to safeguard institutional independence. Protesters have gathered outside the Supreme Court and marched to the parliament, causing disruptions near a nearby bank. Yaron has warned that ongoing uncertainty could have significant economic consequences, exacerbating the depreciation of the shekel and poor stock market performance.
Despite being on trial for bribery, Netanyahu downplays the impact of the campaign on the economy and expresses frustration with the recent protests. A representative from the White House’s National Security Council emphasized President Biden’s request to preserve and understand Israel’s judicial independence, expecting a sincere compromise from the Israeli government.
Israeli society remains divided over the judicial revamp, with Netanyahu temporarily putting it on hold for compromise talks with the opposition. However, negotiations collapsed in June, leading the coalition to resume the legislation. Israel’s President, Isaac Herzog, has called for the resumption of negotiations among parties to address the fundamental issues dividing the nation.
Also Read: Israel Indicates Jenin Operation is Near Its Completion
