After hundreds of thousands of people protested the government’s judicial overhaul plans on Saturday night, the coalition was nonetheless expected to press ahead with the radical package of reforms on Sunday, with the next plenary vote on legislation scheduled for Wednesday, although the timetable could change.
Since being sworn in less than two months ago, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right coalition has prioritized controversial proposals to reshape the judicial system, spearheaded by Justice Minister Yariv Levin and MK Simcha Rothman, Speaker of the Knesset Constitution. Law and Justice Committee.
Rothman planned to bring the so-called “override” law, which underwent a preliminary reading last week, to his committee for discussion Sunday morning, Hebrew media reported.
Under Rothman’s bill, passed as Basic Law: Override, the Knesset could pass almost any law with a clause making the law entirely immune to judicial oversight. Legislation not made immune requires a unanimous decision by all 15 Supreme Court justices to be struck down.
The bill was provisionally read in the Knesset last week and is due to be prepared in committee for its first reading in just over a week, Channel 13 News reported.
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The network said it is also discussing a second version of the law, in which the Supreme Court could not scrap laws altogether, but could release a non-binding statement that it contradicted one of Israel’s quasi-constitutional laws, sending it back for review by the Knesset .
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left), Justice Minister Yariv Levin (centre) and Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter in the Knesset on February 22, 2023 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
In the coming week, the coalition also reportedly plans to advance legislation that would radically limit the circumstances in which the resignation of a sitting prime minister can be ordered. The preliminary vote on this bill is expected on Wednesday.
Wednesday is also set to be the next day of nationwide protests, with organizers saying it will be “a day of struggle” across the country. They have not yet announced their plans, but are expected to spearhead various acts of disruption across the country, whether by blocking roads or otherwise.
The coalition’s plans to seriously weaken the judiciary have sparked mass protests and warnings from high-ranking public figures, including lawyers, economists, business leaders, high-tech entrepreneurs and reservists from senior military units.
Crowds of Israelis took part in protests against the government’s plans on Saturday, an estimated 130,000 to 160,000 in Tel Aviv and tens of thousands more across the country. Organizers claimed about 300,000 people took part in rallies across the country, making the recent demonstrations the largest yet.
A drone footage of anti-government protesters in Tel Aviv on February 25, 2023. (Social Media)
As the main Tel Aviv rally ended, hundreds of protesters marched to the Ayalon Highway and clashed with police officers who – unsuccessfully – tried to stop them from blocking the main thoroughfare. Some protesters set fire to tires and wooden planks on the road, which was closed for several hours.
A fire was lit during Israeli anti-government protests on the Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv pic.twitter.com/3YI9aB8L9P
— Allyn Fisher-Ilan (@AFilan) February 25, 2023
Police said 21 protesters were arrested. Police also launched an investigation into a protester who was seen writing graffiti on the highway and called Netanyahu a “traitor”. Some police officers were injured by violent protesters, the force said, including two who were bitten by rioters.
Netanyahu said the protesters were trying to “create anarchy” and force new elections.
Among the sweeping reforms rushed through the Knesset in recent weeks are the government granting itself complete control over the appointment of Supreme Court justices, virtually eliminating the court’s ability to review and strike down laws and politicians allowed to appoint – and fire – their own legal advisers.
Critics say the plan will profoundly undermine Israel’s democratic character, messing up its system of checks and balances, giving the coalition almost all power, and leaving individual rights unprotected and minorities unprotected.
Top economists have repeatedly warned that the overhaul will severely damage the economy. After the Knesset passed the first votes on Tuesday on the law, marking the first significant steps in its divisive effort, the shekel slipped to its weakest level in three years against the US dollar and Tel Aviv stocks fell.
Netanyahu has resisted the criticism, brushing aside the predictions, saying the proposals would strengthen rather than weaken democracy and that his government is carrying out the will of the people.
Several recent polls have shown that the overhaul plans are largely unpopular with the public.
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