Judicial law passes first vote in Israeli Knesset
Israel’s parliament took another step Tuesday to push forward a judicial reform package that has sparked mass protests against the hard-right cabinet of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Lawmakers in a 3:00 am (0100 GMT) vote approved a bill in first reading that would, among other things, allow the Knesset to scrap Supreme Court rulings with a simple majority vote, according to AFP.
Netanyahu’s cabinet has argued the reforms are needed to limit judicial overreach.
Demonstrations have flared for 10 weeks, and activists staged another sit-in early Tuesday outside ministries in Al-Quds, briefly blocking access to staff.
“Stop the rush toward a messianic dictatorship and start working toward democracy,” the protesters demanded before 10 of them were detained by police.
The latest measure was adopted by a 61 to 52 vote but will still need to be approved in a committee and then in second and third plenum readings before becoming law.
It would allow lawmakers to override Supreme Court decisions that strike down legislation with a majority of 61 of the 120-member parliament, and then deny the court the right to review such a move.
It would also make it harder for the Supreme Court to strike down legislation it deems to contravene Basic Laws, Israel’s quasi constitution, by requiring the support of 12 out of 15 judges.
In an earlier overnight vote, lawmakers also approved a bill in first reading that would considerably limit the chances of a prime minister being declared incapacitated for any reason other than mental or physical impairments.
The cabinet of Netanyahu, which includes ultra-Orthodox and extreme-right parties, introduced its judicial reform package in January.
Ten consecutive weeks of demonstrations have followed, with critics also charging that the proposed changes aim to protect Netanyahu as he fights corruption charges in an ongoing court battle.
The reforms would also grant the ruling coalition more powers in appointing judges.
Israeli President Issac Herzog warned late Monday that the “constitutional and social crisis” was damaging the regime and “could have diplomatic, economic, social and security repercussions”.