The Israeli Supreme Court began hearing appeals today, Tuesday, against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition's efforts to limit its powers, in a historic session that has already intensified a crisis dividing the nation for months. For the first time in Israel's history, the Supreme Court is convening in full, with all 15 justices, to consider appeals brought by opposition lawmakers and oversight organizations against a judicial system amendment passed by the National Religious Coalition led by Netanyahu in July. This is part of a package of judicial reforms that have sparked months of protests.
The legislation removes the court's authority to annul a decision made by the government or ministers if it deems it "unreasonable," although it retains other tools that allow it to annul executive decisions. The government argues that the "judicial amendments, including the use of what is known as the reasonableness argument, aim to prevent unelected judges from interfering in politics." Opponents, however, contend that "this move threatens democracy in Israel by eliminating a vital check that maintains balance."
