The cabinet during the Sunday weekly meeting approved the motion put forward by Justice Minister Daniel Friedman, seeking to amend the nation’s Basic Law towards limiting the authority of the Supreme Court. The motion passed in a 13-11 vote. The bill will now move to the Knesset Law Committee. Labor and Kadima ministers opposed the bill.

The senior minister’s bill would limit the authority of the nation’s highest, which to date may annul any Knesset decision if it feels such a decision violates human rights. The amendment would limit the court’s authority to matters which are deemed contradictory to the nation’s Basic Law, addressing one’s liberty, dignity, and one’s right of Freedom of Occupation. Giving the Knesset addition power, the bill states that any law annulled by the high court can be overturned and reactivated by the Knesset in a simple 61-vote majority.

Friedman views his bill as an important step towards restoring Knesset authority, while strengthening the Supreme Court since for a first time in the nation’s history, the high court has been given the authority to annul Knesset law if such a law infringes on the Basic Law.

Labor leader Ehud Barak expressed his party’s adamant opposition to the bill, as well as the fact that the current government, in its last days, addresses such a vital issue.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert expressed the need to create a separation between the legislative, judicial and executive branches.

Shas leader Eli Yishai stated that while there he has reservations; he may indeed support the bill towards defining the Supreme Court’s authority.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)