J Post-High Court To Hold Hearing On Judicial Reform Law In September

The Jerusalem Post reports that Israel's High Court will hold a hearing on the judicial reform known as the 'Reasonableness Standard Bill' passed in the Knesset earlier this week in September, following the court's summer recess. J Post: "Despite the request by petitioners to issue an interim injunction against the reasonableness standard bill, the court determined that there was no place for such an order at this time."

• Michael Starr at J Post identifies the potential next step in the judicial reform process that could see social and political tensions escalate further beyond their current fever-pitch: "The next bill that the coalition will likely promote,[...] is on the Judicial Selection Committee. The Judicial Selection Committee is perhaps the most contentious issue of judicial reform."
• Supporters of reforming the committee state that the presence solely of the Israeli Bar Association and judicial representatives creates a closed an unaccountable system. Critics argue removing IBA reps and adding in elected officials would risk a politicised judiciary inclined towards the coalition that has appointed them.
• Mass protests and widespread strike action continues across the country in opposition to the reforms. The gov't continues to draw criticism from sectors not usually inclined to get directly involved in political affairs such as the business community, the armed forces, and the healthcare sector. Meanwhile, Israel's international allies have also voiced their concerns about the impact of the reforms on the country's social cohesion and democratic standards.