Israel: controversial justice reform approved at first reading by Parliament

In Israel, the text of the justice reform mobilizes a strong part of public opinion against it.

February 13 demonstration in Jerusalem (illustrative image).

© AP - Ohad Zwigenberg

Text by: RFI Follow

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The Israeli Parliament approved, on Tuesday, February 21, at first reading, two bills on the flagship provisions of a controversial reform of the judicial system, raising fears among its opponents of an anti-democratic drift in the country.

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In a nightly vote on February 21, Israeli MPs approved - by 63 votes to 47 - texts that modify the process for appointing judges and introduce a "notwithstanding" clause allowing Parliament to overrule by a 

 majority certain decisions of the Supreme Court.

This acts as a Constitutional Court, in the absence of a Constitution.

Tens of thousands of protesters

This justice reform project was announced in early January 2023 by the government, formed a month earlier by right-wing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with far-right parties and ultra-Orthodox Jewish formations.

The text mobilizes a strong part of public opinion against him.

AT

In Tel Aviv, demonstrations take place every Saturday evening, bringing together tens of thousands of protesters - a sign of a massive mobilization across the size of the country - who denounce en bloc this project but also the general policy of the government .

Yesterday, Monday February 20, in Jerusalem, several tens of thousands of people demonstrated around the Parliament against the vote, before which the debates were disrupted by elected members of the opposition draped in Israeli flags and temporarily removed.

Both bills must return to the House Law Committee for further debate, before second and third reading votes in the plenary session to become law.

“ 

We can reach agreements 

”

After the night's vote, Justice Minister Yariv Levin called on opposition members to "

."

“ 

,” he said.

But opposition leader Yair Lapid accused the ruling coalition of pushing Israel towards civil war.

If “ 

, then

[on this reform]

 ,” he said.

For Messrs.

Netanyahu and Levin say the bill is needed to restore a balanced balance of power between elected officials and the Supreme Court, which the prime minister and his allies say is politicized.

On the contrary, say its detractors, the reform, by aiming to reduce the influence of the judiciary in favor of political power, jeopardizes the democratic character of the State of Israel.

(

AFP)

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