2023-07-10 22:35:18
The Israeli Parliament adopted in the night from Monday to Tuesday in first reading a key clause of the controversial judicial reform. This aims to cancel the possibility for justice to rule on “the reasonableness” of government decisions.
According to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s ruling coalition, bringing together right-wing, far-right and religious parties, the aim is to ensure a better balance of power. Its detractors see it as a threat to Israeli democracy and its institutional safeguards.
The text was adopted at first reading by 64 votes in favor, corresponding to the deputies of the government coalition, during an agitated session. The 56 opposition MPs all voted against.
During the debates, attendants had to drag them out on the floor of protesters who had broken into the Knesset building and managed to approach the debate hall. Several hundred other reform opponents demonstrated outside the building.
Supreme Court referred
In a video posted on Facebook during the debates, Mr. Netanyahu wanted to be reassuring. He claimed the bill was “not the end of democracy, but it will strengthen democracy”. “The rights of the Israeli courts and citizens will not be prejudiced in any way […] The court will continue to review the legality of government decisions and appointments,” he said.
But opposition leader Yair Lapid, leader of the centrist Yesh Atid party, slammed the bill in a speech to MPs. “You promised to help the weak and protect Israel’s security […] You are doing nothing but this madness,” he said. The opposition promised a day of national mobilization on Tuesday against the bill, which will go through a second and third reading.
Announced shortly after the inauguration of the right-wing government formed by Mr. Netanyahu at the start of the year, the judicial reform aims in particular to reduce the prerogatives of the supreme court, which the executive judges to be politicized. Its detractors believe that the reform risks opening the way to an illiberal or authoritarian drift.
According to a poll published Sunday by the Kan public broadcaster, 11.31% of Israelis are in favor of the adoption of this measure, against 43% who oppose it. On Saturday evening, tens of thousands of Israelis gathered to protest the bill in central Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities for the 27th consecutive week.
This article has been published automatically. Sources: ats / afp
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