Israeli lawmakers began discussions today, Sunday, on a bill that would limit the powers of the Supreme Court, marking a resumption of efforts to enact amendments to judicial authority laws proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government, made up of religious and nationalist parties, which faced fierce opposition previously.
Anti-Netanyahu government protests led to the suspension of his campaign to pass the judicial amendments in March, allowing for negotiations with opposition parties. Last week, it was announced that the negotiations had been unproductive, and a modified version of the bill was ordered for discussion.
The proposed amendments, which included restrictions on the court's powers regarding rulings against the government, sparked repeated street protests before the efforts to pass them were suspended in March, with opponents to the changes blocking a major highway in Tel Aviv last night.
Members of the ruling coalition indicated that the new bill would be a much lighter version of previous proposals, which sought to almost completely restrict the Supreme Court's authority to rule against the executive branch. However, the opposition claims that the new bill still represents an entry point for corruption.
Opposition member Gilad Kariv from the Labor Party stated at the start of the discussions, "You are renewing a legislative attempt aimed at destroying the independence of the judiciary and severely damaging the delicate checks and balances of Israeli democracy." Opposition leader Yair Lapid urged Netanyahu via Twitter to halt the legislation and revive negotiations "until we reach agreements that protect democracy and prevent a national disaster."
The proposed judicial amendments have also raised concerns in the West regarding the safety of democratic life in Israel and have unsettled investors. Critics see it as Netanyahu's attempt to reduce the court's independence while facing trial on corruption charges he denies. The ruling coalition contends that its goal is to achieve a balance between the powers of the government, the legislature, and the judiciary by curbing the Supreme Court, which they believe intervenes too much.
