Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Thursday that he would not suspend his judicial overhaul plan, despite mass demonstrations across the country and unprecedented warnings from military and security service leaders who say protests among reservists could hamper the IDF’s operational readiness and capabilities.
Why it matters: Netanyahu’s speech signals that he has no intention of compromising on key elements of the plan and that he is fully in line with his government’s most extremist ministers. He said one of those key elements — a law that will give his coalition an automatic majority on the panel that appoints Supreme Court justices — will be put to a vote in the Knesset next week.
Driving the news: Netanyahu delivered his speech at the end of the most dramatic day of protests and political infighting since Justice Minister Yariv Levin unveiled the plan in early January.
- Tens of thousands of Israelis demonstrated across the country on Thursday against the government and the recovery plan. Demonstrators blocked some of Israel’s main highways for several hours.
- Israeli media reported Thursday night that Defense Minister Yoav Gallant was preparing to make a dramatic statement during prime-time news hour, urging Netanyahu to immediately suspend the law to halt protests among IDF reservists.
- Netanyahu then announced that he would be delivering a speech himself and invited Gallant to an urgent meeting to try to reassure him and persuade him to call off his planned statement.
Backstage: Gallant warned Netanyahu at their meeting that pushing ahead with the judiciary overhaul could lead to further protests among IDF reservists and even within the regular army, an adviser to the defense minister told Axios.
- The meeting with Gallant came after Netanyahu received similar warnings from IDF chief of staff Herzi Halevi and the director of the State Security Agency, Shin Bet.
What you say: Despite pushing the plan, Netanyahu showed some empathy towards the protesters and those concerned about the legislation’s negative consequences.
- “We must do everything to protect our country from external threats and from an irreparable internal rift,” he said. “Those who are against reform are not traitors and those who are for it are not fascists.”
- Netanyahu said he wanted to push reform that would restore balance between the different branches of power but protect civil liberties. “We didn’t come here to run over anyone. We came to fix and equalize,” he said.
- Netanyahu said he wanted dialogue with the opposition and was listening to the concerns of those opposed to his plan.
- “In all democracies, including America, elected officials choose judges. Isn’t the US a democracy? If this reform goes through, it will not be the end of democracy, but a strengthening of democracy,” Netanyahu argued.
- Yes but: Netanyahu’s comparison with the US ignored the significant differences in the systems of government between the two countries and the fact that the US has more control mechanisms than Israel.
Catch up fast: Under the coalition plan, six of the 11 members of the committee that appoints Supreme Court justices will be from the ruling coalition, giving the government full control of the process.
- According to the plan, the coalition will be able to appoint the next two Supreme Court justices and the new President of the High Court by a simple majority of the committee.
- If implemented, it will mark the first time since the committee’s formation in 1953 that Supreme Court justices will be appointed solely by politicians from the ruling coalition.
Between the lines: Netanyahu is pushing through legislation while he stands trial on bribery, fraud and embezzlement charges. He denies any wrongdoing.
- If the government fully controls the appointment of Supreme Court justices, Netanyahu will be able to influence the formation of the panel that could consider his appointment.
Something to see: Netanyahu said his coalition still plans to push through a law that will allow the Knesset to overrule Supreme Court rulings, but stressed that the law will not provide for the ability to do so with a simple majority of 61 members in the to do Parliament.
- He also said the coalition will pass a law that will protect basic civil and human rights for all citizens of Israel. “All legislation must be based on these principles. I will personally ensure that this is the case,” Netanyahu said.
The other side: Opposition leader Yair Lapid and former Defense Minister Benny Gantz dismissed Netanyahu’s speech, accusing the prime minister of damaging Israeli democracy and obstructing Israel’s security.
- The civil society organizations leading the protests against the judiciary overhaul also dismissed the speech and said demonstrations would continue Saturday night.
go deeper: US Democrat lawmakers hold ’emotional’ meeting with Israeli ambassador over judiciary review