Judicial Reforms Set To Pass, Critics Accuse Netanyahu Of Power Grab

Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu's proposed reforms to the Israeli judiciary - which critics argue erodes checks and balances on the gov't - received initial backing in the Knesset (parliament) on 20 February. The reforms will now go to committee before to a second and third reading likely around late-March.

• The reforms are necessary according to the Netanyahu gov't in order to curb the overly-powerful judiciary and ensure laws are made by elected representatives.
• Opponents state that the reforms - giving the gov't more power in appointing judges and removing the judiciary's powers to revoke legislation it deems in violation of the 'Basic Laws' (effectively Israel's constitution) - are a simple power-grab by Netanyahu and his right-wing coalition allies.
• Mass protests have sprung up across the country in opposition to the proposals, some of the largest public action seen in years. The passage of the laws would see the gov't able to overrule the Supreme Court with a simple majority in the Knesset, which foreign investors have viewed as a potential risk of future gov't overreach.
• In the early months of Netanyahu's six-party right-wing gov't relations with the courts have proved strained. Leader of the Sephardi-interest Shas Party Aryeh Deri was barred from ministerial office due to prior tax offences in a blow to gov't unity. Netenyahu is also in the midst of a corruption trial, with critics arguing that it represents a clear conflict of interest for the PM to be on trial while also attempting major changes to the judiciary.
• In early Feb we highlighted the opposition to the reforms from the Attorney General (appointed by the previous gov't): https://marketnews.com/attorney-general-proposed-j...