Israel’s parliament has given initial approval to a bill that limits some Supreme Court power, part of a rebooted judicial overhaul by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that has set off a deep political crisis.
The drive to change the justice system by Netanyahu’s ruling coalition of nationalist and religious parties has sparked unprecedented protests, stirred concern for Israel’s democratic health among its Western allies and bruised the economy.
Commanding 64 of the Knesset’s 120 seats, Netanyahu’s coalition on Monday won the first of three required votes for the new bill to be written into law. Protests against the bill were expected to intensify on Tuesday with nationwide disruptions pledged by organisers.
The bill seeks a curb on the Supreme Court’s power to void decisions made by the government, ministers and elected officials by ruling them unreasonable. It now returns to committee for discussion and could be altered before being brought for the final votes.
Critics argue that this judicial oversight helps prevent corruption and abuses of power. Proponents say the change will facilitate effective governance by curbing court intervention.
“It is not the end of democracy, it strengthens democracy,” Netanyahu said in a video statement as the Knesset debated the bill.
Read the article by Maayan Lubell in The Canberra Times.