In Israel, parliament is voting on a major measure of controversial judicial reform, which is a “shame” for the opposition

On Monday, July 24, Israeli lawmakers approved a key part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s reform aimed at reshaping the country’s judicial system. This action limits the Supreme Court’s ability to overturn a government decision. It was approved by 64 elected members of the prime minister’s coalition. The vote came after a stormy session in which opponents of reform denounced ” Shame “, before leaving the room. They boycotted the vote.

The move reflected the determination of Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right allies to push the plan forward, despite months of mass protests and opposition from businessmen, reservists and legal officials.

In a vote on Monday, lawmakers approved the measure that prevents judges from overruling government decisions on the grounds that they are “illogical”. Proponents say the current standard of “reasonableness” Unelected judges are given excessive powers over elected decision-making. On the contrary, the opposition says that this measure removes an essential element of the powers of the supervisory court and opens the way for corruption and arbitrary appointments.

After the vote, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, the plan’s architect, said parliament had done so “The first step in an important historical process” Reforming the judicial system.

Demonstrators lined up in front of the Israeli parliament to protest the vote as President Isaac Herzog tried to secure a last-minute compromise on the text. Police used water cannons to disperse protesters opposing a reform bill for Benjamin Netanyahu’s national-religious coalition, which has plunged Israel into one of its worst crises in decades.

“We are in the midst of a national emergencysaid the president, Isaac Herzog, in a press release. We work around the clock and in every possible way to find a solution. There is a possible basis for understanding, but gaps remain that require the parties to show accountability. »

Discussions followed “closely” abroad

On Sunday, US President Joe Biden urged Israel not to rush into an increasingly aggressive judicial reform “source of division”. The head of German diplomacy also stressed, over the weekend, during an interview with her Israeli counterpart, the importance of the independence of justice.

“We are convinced that strong institutions, an independent judiciary, and clear rules for the separation of powers are important to any democracy, and this applies, of course, to Israel.”German Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Andrea Sassi said at a regular press conference.

Minister Annalina Berbock had her too “clearly remembered” This German position was expressed by his Israeli counterpart, Eli Cohen, during a telephone conversation over the same weekend. Germany tracking “Very closely the discussions currently taking place in the Knesset”as pointed out by Andrea Sassi.

On Sunday, Mr. Netanyahu said he would continue efforts to complete the reform (…) and efforts to do so in accordance with [avec l’opposition] ». At the start of the project, the Minister of Justice, Yariv Levin, announced that the government had chosen the approach “discreet”.

“We do not abolish the ‘reasonableness’ clause, but limit its use, so that the judge’s personal opinions are not expressed at the expense of the people’s will.”He told the deputies. “There is no reason to be afraid of this amendment”, he added. Critics of the prime minister, on trial for corruption, accuse him of wanting to use this reform to mitigate a possible sentence against him.

Other provisions are also causing discontent, such as those amending the process of appointing judges, which have already been adopted by MPs on first reading.