Netanyahu's Controversial Judicial Reform Plan In Israel SC, Massive Showdown In Top Court

In a major update, the Supreme Court of Israel has begun hearing arguments from watchdog groups against On Netanyahu's contentious juridical overhaul plan.

Months after the Israeli Prime Minister’s judicial overhaul brought a storm of protests in the country, the Supreme Court on Tuesday began hearing arguments against the contentious plan to curb the court’s powers. According to Reuters, the historic session has already fuelled the crisis. This is the first time that all of the 15 justices have convened a hearing for appeals filed by watchdog groups against the judicial amendment passed by the Netanyahu-led religious-nationalist coalition in July this year. 

As per the report, the bill removed only one of the many tools that the court had for voiding government and ministers' decisions if it deemed them "unreasonable". 

 While a ruling from the top court may take weeks or even months, the mere beginning of an unprecedented showdown between the judiciary against the executive and legislature has gripped the Israelis. Reuters mentioned that TV and radio stations aired detailed coverage of the court session. 

 

Appellants' Arguments 

In their appeals, the petitioners have argued that the amendment aims to remove a crucial democratic check, opening the way for corruption and abuses of power, as per the report. They added that the entire legislation process regarding the bill was "flawed". 

Yair Lapid, who is the centrist head of the parliamentary opposition, said the bill was "warped and thuggish".  "It's not worth getting into a national quarrel over such legislation," he said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

 

Govt's Counter To Appeals 

The Israeli government has maintained that the Supreme Court has no authority to even review amendments to a quasi-constitutional Basic Law. 

 Yariv Levin, Justice Minister and architect of the judicial overhaul, said that the Supreme Court session is "a mortal blow to democracy and the standing of the Knesset" by justices, adding it is both unrepresentative and unelected. 

Notably, PM Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption charges, has said the judicial changes are meant to balance a Supreme Court that has become too "interventionist". The changes were proposed in January triggering massive protests across the country.