Israeli judicial crisis flares
Israel is embroiled in its most serious domestic political crisis in decades as the planned overhaul of the Supreme Court Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet is debated in parliament. The prime minister was in hospital after being fitted with a pacemaker on Sunday, as tens of thousands of people converged on Al-Quds (Jerusalem) to protest the planned overhaul of the Supreme Court.
The 73-year-old leader was rushed to Sheba Medical Center near Tel Aviv on Saturday after a heart monitor implanted a week earlier in what was described as a dehydration episode detected a “temporary arrhythmia”, Reuters quoted as his doctors saying.
Netanyahu had been expected to vote in parliament today on a key element of his highly contested judicial overhaul, which has ignited months of nationwide protests and concern abroad over Israel’s democratic health. Lawmakers on Sunday began debating the bill, which would limit the court’s ability to void decisions made by the cabinet and ministers it deems “unreasonable”. The result of today’s vote could come as soon as that evening. The crisis has spread to the military, with hundreds of volunteer army reservists threatening not to show up for service if the cabinet continues with the plans, and former military and security chiefs warning that national security was at risk.
Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi wrote in an open letter that “dangerous cracks” are formed when political disputes seep into the military, and he called on all reservists to report for service.