Israeli Supreme Court Strikes Down Netanyahu's Judicial Reform Law

The Supreme Court of Israel has struck down the law which was aimed at curtailing the judiciary's power to cancel government decisions that it might have deemed to be "extremely unreasonable".

The Supreme Court of Israel

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The Supreme Court of Israel on Monday struck down a controversial judicial reform which was targetted at reducing the judiciary's power on laws that it might have deemed unconstitutional. A statement from the court stated that 8 out of 15 judges ruled against this law while adding that this would have caused "severe and unprecedented damage to the basic characteristics of the State of Israel as a democratic state", reported BBC. This verdict of the court raises the possibility of escalating tensions in the nation while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fights the terror group Hamas in Gaza. 

In July 2023, the Netanyahu government passed a law that is now known as the "reasonableness" bill. This law removed the power of the apex and the lower courts in Israel to cancel government decisions that it would have deemed to be "extremely unreasonable." This law sparked massive protests in the nation, BBC reported. 

Israel's Justice Minister and architect of the law Yariv Levin slammed the judges for 'taking into their hands all the powers'. He termed their decision to strike the law down as undemocratic. However, the opposition leader Yair Lapid welcomed the verdict, saying on X (formerly known as Twitter) that the apex court had "faithfully fulfilled its role in protecting the citizens of Israel".

החלטת בג"צ חותמת שנה קשה של מריבה שקרעה אותנו מבפנים והובילה לאסון הנורא בתולדותינו.

מקור כוחה של מדינת ישראל, הבסיס לעוצמה הישראלית, היא העובדה שאנחנו מדינה יהודית, דמוקרטית, ליברלית, שומרת חוק.

בית המשפט העליון מילא היום נאמנה את תפקידו בשמירה על אזרחי ישראל >>>

— יאיר לפיד - Yair Lapid (@yairlapid) January 1, 2024

The Netanyahu government has attempted to gain greater power over appointing judges as well along with the power to scrap the requirement for ministers to obey the advice of their legal advisers. The Israeli Prime Minister has argued that the changes are required to redress the balance between the judges and the politicians, the BBC report added.

The law had received massive opposition from the citizens who held demonstrations, and clashed with police for months pushing the government to take it back. At present. Israel's governance has been under fire domestically for its perceived failure in preventing Hamas's attack on October 7.