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Israel’s New Government Unveils Plan to Weaken Supreme Court


Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s justice minister on Wednesday unveiled the new government’s long-promised overhaul of the judicial system that aims to weaken the country’s Supreme Court.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin presented a series of sweeping changes aimed at curbing the powers of the judiciary, including by allowing lawmakers to pass laws that the high court has struck down and effectively deemed unconstitutional.

Levin laid out a law that would empower the country’s 120-seat parliament, or Knesset, to override Supreme Court decisions with a simple majority of 61 votes. Levin also proposed that politicians play a greater role in the appointment of Supreme Court judges.

In his speech, Levin argued that the public’s faith in the judicial system is at a historic low, and said he plans to restore power to elected officials that now lies in the hands of activist judges.

“We go to the polls and vote, choose, but time after time, people who we didn’t elect decide for us,” he said. “That’s not democracy.”

The planned overhaul has already drawn fierce criticism from Israel’s attorney general and the Israeli opposition, underscoring the difficulties that Netanyahu’s new government will face.

Yair Lapid, former Prime Minister and head of the opposition, said he would fight the changes “in every possible way” and vowed to cancel them if he returns to power. “Those who carry out a unilateral coup in Israel need to know that we are not obligated to it in any way whatsoever,” he said.

Further fueling the clash over the judiciary, Levin’s announcement comes just a day before the Supreme Court is expected to hear petitions against the appointment of Aryeh Deri for Cabinet minister. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara announced her opposition to the appointment of Deri earlier Wednesday.

As part of negotiations to form the current government, Israel’s parliament last month changed a law to allow someone convicted on probation to serve as a Cabinet minister. That paved the way for Deri, a key part of the coalition that brought Netanyahu back to power, to become health and interior minister, as well as finance minister in a rotation agreement after two years. Deri was convicted on probation last year for tax offenses.

Baharav-Miara made her standing clear in a note to the Supreme Court, which is set to soon discuss appeals against Deri’s appointment. She said the appointment “radically deviates from the sphere of reasonability.” She has reportedly said she will not be defending the state in court against the appeals, because of her opposition.

Baharav-Miara was appointed by the previous government that vehemently opposed Netanyahu’s rule. Netanyahu’s allies have floated the idea of splitting up the post of attorney general into three roles including two that would be political appointments. That would water down the current attorney-general’s authority while opening the door for Netanyahu to install someone favorable to throwing out the charges against him.

(AP)



4 Responses

  1. Decades ago Porush called the Supreme Court Judicial dictatorship. They are anti-religious anti-government leftist politicians misusing their position in court.

  2. “Those who carry out a unilateral coup in Israel need to know that we are not obligated to it in any way whatsoever,”

    That’s rich. The unilateral coup was carried out years ago by the Supreme Court and the Legal Adviser (which for some unfathomable reason the English-language news media insist on mistranslating as “Attorney General”). For years people have been demanding that this coup be reversed and democratic government restored. Now there’s a government that has committed itself to do that. Aharon Barak should have been arrested for treason when he pulled this stunt.

  3. if you don’t live with Hashem and you live in Israel then you should leave…..your residence of evil is not wanted in this amazing land…..off with the rainbows and anyone who doesn’t own their own soul….America is rich and open for you….

  4. The nice thing about the Israeli Supreme Court is it’s located next to a movie theater, so the judges can go watch movies when not deciding important matters.

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