Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Monday described parliament’s approval of a key measure of his right-wing government’s controversial judicial reform as “a necessary democratic step”.
“This move aims to restore the balance between the powers (…), we voted [cette mesure] so that the elected government can implement policies in accordance with the decision of the majority of citizens,” Benyamin Netanyahou reiterated during a televised address.
“Shame, shame! »
The measure, passed in Parliament on Monday, aims to limit the Supreme Court’s ability to invalidate a government decision. It was approved by 64 MPs out of a total of 120 in Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s coalition. Opposition MPs boycotted the vote, with some shouting “shame, shame!”.
Benjamin Netanyahu, 73, took part in the vote after being discharged from the hospital where he was admitted for the insertion of a pacemaker. Police had recently used water cannon to disperse hundreds of people who were blocking the entrance to Parliament in Jerusalem.
Huge protest movement
After the vote, police attempted to evacuate protesters who were blocking streets in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Since its announcement in January, the judiciary reform bill has sparked one of the largest protests in Israel’s history, which has intensified as the vote nears.
The measure passed on Monday is the first of the reform that became law. It prevents the Supreme Court from invalidating a government decision by assessing its “reasonableness”. It was adopted at first reading on 11 July.