Israel Passes Controversial Court Law Despite Protests

Israel Passes Controversial Court Law Despite Protests

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Israel’s parliament adopted legislation limiting the powers of the top court despite protests and President Isaac Herzog saying that his nation is in “a state of national emergency.”

Reasonableness Standard Bill, reducing the Supreme Court’s ability to annul government decisions if deemed “unreasonable,” passed by a 64-to-0 vote late Monday. However, by then, opposition lawmakers had left the session in protest, some shouting: “For shame!”

Monday’s vote marked the passing of the first law of a judicial overhaul sought by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Last-gasp compromise efforts backed by President Herzog collapsed, adding to a constitutional crisis that saw massive protests in the country.

Protests against the amendment began early in the day, with police dragging away protesters who had chained themselves to posts and blocked the road outside parliament.

Witnesses also said security forces used water canon, and Israeli police acknowledged that at least 19 people had been arrested on Monday.

By evening, thousands had taken to the streets across the country, blocking highways and scuffling with police. About 150 firms, including banks, went on strike Monday to support the protests against the legal reforms.

FIRST STEP

Yet the government held firm.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin, an architect of the legislative package that Netanyahu said would create more balance among branches of government, called Monday’s vote a “first step.”

Critics said “Israel’s far-right and ultra-religious government” finally passed an element of its wide-ranging changes to the judiciary.

However, protesters say legal action, a general strike, and possible refusal from upwards of 10,000 military reservists to report for duty are now being considered.

What is arguably Israel’s largest-ever domestic crisis entered a new chapter, though President Herzog urged all parties to compromise.

The outcome also led to tensions with the United States, Israel’s closest ally.

US CONCERNS

On Sunday night, U.S. President Joe Biden reportedly cautioned Netanyahu against rushing toward a vote.

The Knesset, Israel’s parliament, was to go on recess at the end of this week until mid-October.

There had been suggestions for extending the current session to allow more time to negotiate, well-informed sources said.

“From the perspective of Israel’s friends in the United States, it looks like the current judicial reform proposal is becoming more divisive, not less,” Biden added in remarks directed at Netanyahu.

“Given the range of threats and challenges confronting Israel right now, it doesn’t make sense for Israeli leaders to rush this. The focus should be on pulling people together and finding consensus,” the U.S. president stressed.

Israeli President Herzog, who returned from a visit to the White House, agreed. He said that “During these decisive hours, I call on elected officials to act with courage and to reach out in order to arrive at understanding.”

Yet as night fell over Jerusalem, there were no signs of a breakthrough in Israel’s troubled political landscape.

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