The World Briefly

February 15, 2023

Test of Wills

Israel

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The Israeli opposition warned Tuesday that mass protests a day before against legislation to overhaul the country’s top court was “just the start” if the bill continues to advance through parliament, the Times of Israel reported.

On Monday, tens of thousands of Israelis protested in front of the country’s parliament while thousands more went on strike as the right-wing government advanced legislation opponents say risks chipping away the country’s democracy, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The draft legislation would allow a simple majority of lawmakers to overturn Supreme Court decisions and have more influence on the committee that appoints judges. The coalition is expected to approve two significant reform components through a key parliamentary committee.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his right-wing coalition criticized the court for being ruled by left-wing, activist justices who strike down bills supported by the majority of the country’s population.

Coalition members have said they hope to pass a number of laws that were previously struck down by the court, including legislation formalizing a longstanding exemption for ultraorthodox students from army service.

But opposition politicians and critics warned that the top court’s overhaul would give Netanyahu’s coalition unchecked power. Israel has a limited system of checks and balances, with the Supreme Court serving as the primary check on legislative and executive power.

The controversial bill has also drawn criticism from the Israeli business community and tech sector, with economists worrying that the judicial changes would weaken the independence of Israel’s courts and could hurt its economy.

This story originally appeared in the February 15, 2023 newsletter, The Other Front.