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Israeli Parliament Passes Controversial Law Stripping Supreme Court Of Power

Israeli lawmakers approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s contentious plan to limit the Supreme Court’s influence, defying a wide range of opposition movements that had threatened to shut down large parts...

Israeli lawmakers approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s contentious plan to limit the Supreme Court’s influence, defying a wide range of opposition movements that had threatened to shut down large parts of the country with protests. The plan restricts the Supreme Court’s ability to overturn government decisions, as part of a deeply divisive judicial overhaul that has led to perhaps Israel’s most serious domestic crisis since its founding 75 years ago.

Israeli Parliament Passes Controversial Law

Israeli Parliament: Why In The News?

  • Israeli Lawmakers Approved The Contentious Plan Of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu To Restrict The Influence Of The Supreme Court, Defying A Wide Array Of Opposition Movements That Have Threatened To Shut Down Large Parts Of The Country With Protests.
  • The Plan Limits The Ways In Which The Supreme Court Can Overturn Government Decisions, Part Of A Deeply Divisive Judicial Overhaul That Has Led To Perhaps Israel’s Gravest Domestic Crisis Since Its Founding 75 Years Ago.

Israeli Parliament: What Is The New Measure That Has Been Passed?

  • Under The New Law, The Supreme Court Cannot Overrule The National Government Using The Legal Standard Of “Reasonableness” – A Concept That Judges Previously Used To Strike Down Decisions Made By Lawmakers And Ministers.
  • Netanyahu’s Government Has Argued That The Change Would Help Democracy Foster In The Country As It Gives More Power To The Elected Legislators In Comparison To Unelected Judges.
  • Opponents, however, See It As A Move That Would Help The Ultra-Right Government Enact Orthodox And Illiberal Policies Without Any Intervention Of The Judiciary.

Israeli Parliament: What Are The Other Proposed Reforms?

  • As Of Now, The Ruling Coalition Has Decided To Only Enact The Legislation That Concerns The Legal Concept Of Reasonableness – The Other Reforms Remain On The Back Burner Due To The Large-Scale Protests That Took Place In March.
  • The Government First Officially Announced Its Plans To Make Changes In The Judicial System Back In January. Apart From Reasonableness, There Are Three Other Major Reforms That Have Been Proposed.
  • First, The Government Wants To Enable The 120-Member Parliament, Or Knesset, To Override Any Supreme Court Judgement By A Simple Majority Of 61 Votes Unless Those Rulings Are Unanimous.
  • Second, A Law That Would Give A Greater Role To Lawmakers In The Appointment Of Supreme Court Judges. As Of Now, A Committee Comprising Professionals, Justices And Lawmakers Elevate Judges To The Top Court.
  • The New Change Would Provide Lawmakers A Majority In The Committee, With Most Coming From The Right-wing And Religiously Conservative Ruling Coalition. And Third, A New Measure That Would Allow Ministers To Choose Their Own Legal Advisors Instead Of Using Independent Professionals.
Israeli Parliament

Israeli Parliament: Why Is Netanyahu Changing Israel’s Judicial System?

  • Conservatives And The Right-Wing In Israel Have For A Long Time Seen The Judiciary As A Left-Leaning Impediment To Its Legislative Agenda.
  • For Instance, The Ruling Ultra-Right Coalition Seeks More Power In A Bid To Overturn Court Judgements That Expanded Social Reforms To Support The LGBTQ Community And Barred Previous Governments From Constructing Israeli Outposts On Private Palestinian Land.
  • Essentially, They Want To Rein In The Israeli Judiciary, Known For Its Fierce Independence, Through A Series Of Laws.

Israeli Parliament: How Have Opponents Of The Legislation Reacted?

  • As Israel’s Opposition Lawmakers Don’t Have Enough Numbers In The Parliament To Stop The Reforms, Non-Parliamentary Organisations Have Taken To The Streets.
  • Since December When Netanyahu’s Coalition Came To Power, Large Demonstrations Have Been Taking Place In Different Cities Of The Country.

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