The Knesset early Tuesday passed, in the first of three readings, a first and significant bill in the divisive effort by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hard-right coalition to overhaul the Zionist entity’s judiciary.
The move took place in the face of bitter opposition criticism and after tens of thousands of anti-reform protesters gathered outside the parliament’s gates in occupied Al-Quds (Jerusalem).
The vote was 63 in favor and 47 against, with no abstentions, although some lawmakers boycotted the vote.
“The legislation now returns to the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee for preparation for its second and third readings, which are expected by the end of March,” the Times of Israel reported.
Paired in a back-to-back vote with a related technical bill, the legislation aims to amend the Basic Law: The Judiciary to cement the occupation government control over judicial appointments and revoke the High Court’s ability to review Basic Laws.
Sponsored by the so-called Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, the bill proposes to transform the selection process for judges, effectively putting judicial appointments under full governmental control. It also would block the High Court from exercising oversight over Israel’s quasi-constitutional Basic Laws. (This block is also aimed at preventing High Court scrutiny over the same Basic Law amendment bill that creates the mechanism.)
The vote was preceded by more than six hours of fiery debate in which coalition MKs insisted the legislation would strengthen Israeli democracy, while the opposition warned the government was destroying its foundations. The vote finally took place shortly after midnight.
The vote also came after tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered outside the Knesset waving Israeli flags and chanting “de-mo-cra-cy” as they demanded the government halt its efforts to radically transform the judiciary.
Justice Minister Yariv Levin, a key architect of the overhaul, hailed the vote as a move toward “bringing back democracy” by enabling wider representation on the judiciary.
Netanyahu celebrated the vote as “a great day.”
‘Black Day’
Opposition leader Yair Lapid lambasted the coalition, warning that the legislation will cause severe repercussions.
“Coalition members — history will judge you for tonight. For the damage to democracy, for the damage to the economy, for the damage to security, for you tearing apart the nation of Israel and that you just don’t care,” said Lapid, the head of the Yesh Atid party.
Opposition National Unity Party leader Benny Gantz called it “a black day for democracy.”
“Tomorrow morning we continue the struggle,” Gantz said.
Shin Bet Warnings
Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar spoke with Netanyahu and Justice Minister Yariv Levin in the past few days, telling them that “the atmosphere is heating up.”
Bar was said to have warned them that “according to a situational assessment conducted by the Shin Bet, there is growing potential for violence and escalation as the legislation advances,” and therefore urged them “to do everything to calm the climate.”
The reports said Bar said similar things to Zionist opposition leader Yair Lapid, who has recently had his security detail boosted due to a rising number of threats against him. The Shin Bet chief also said as much to Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
Source: Israeli media
