JERUSALEM, July 24 (Reuters) – Israel’s parliament ratified the first judicial reform bill sought by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, after last-minute compromise efforts collapsed and failed to alleviate a constitutional crisis that has convulsed the country for months.
The amendment limiting the powers of the Supreme Court to overturn some government decisions if it deems them “unreasonable” was approved 64-0 after opposition lawmakers walked out of session in protest, some shouting “Shame!”
It’s part of plans the government announced in January, shortly after it was sworn in, sparking months of unprecedented nationwide protests and raising concerns among allies abroad about Israel’s democratic health.
However, more stalemate loomed. Minutes after the vote, a political watchdog group and the centrist opposition leader said they would appeal the law in the Supreme Court.
Hoping to encourage a tentative deal between the religious-nationalist coalition government and opposition parties, the Histadrut union threatened to declare a general strike if the government implemented what it called “unilateral” measures.
Still, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, the architect of the reform package proposed by Netanyahu as necessary to create more balance between the branches of government, was not intimidated.
“We took the first step in the historic and important process of fixing the justice system and restoring the powers that were taken from the government and the Knesset (parliament),” he said in a speech, apparently ignoring Washington’s calls for compromise.
The crisis has caused a deep split in Israeli society and has seeped into the military, with protest leaders saying thousands of volunteer reservists would not report for duty if the government goes ahead with plans and former top brass warning that Israel’s war readiness could be at risk.
(1/8)Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shows his phone to Justice Minister Yariv Levin as lawmakers gather on the Knesset floor to vote on a bill that would limit some of the Supreme Court’s power, in Jerusalem July 24, 2023. REUTERS/Amir Cohen
The confrontation has also affected the economy. Tel Aviv’s main stock indexes fell more than 2.5% after the Knesset vote and the shekel extended losses against the dollar to 1.2%.
‘DISASTER’
Police used a water cannon to disperse protesters opposing the judicial review and officers dragged out protesters who had chained themselves to posts and blocked the road in front of parliament. After the vote, police said they were dispersing crowds that were marching and blocking a Jerusalem-area highway.
Netanyahu’s coalition is determined to reject what it describes as overreach by a Supreme Court that it says has become too politically interventionist.
Critics say Monday’s amendment was rushed through parliament and will open the door to abuses of power by removing one of the few effective checks on executive authority in a country without a formal written constitution.
“This government can win the battle, but not the war,” said opposition leader Yair Lapid, as protests intensified.
The two largest banks in Israel, Leumi (LUMI.TA) and Hapoalim (POLI.TA)He said he would allow workers to demonstrate Monday without losing pay.
A forum of some 150 of Israel’s largest companies went on strike and Azrieli (AZRG.TA) and big (BIG.TA)two of the largest malls in Israel, said that the stores in their malls would remain closed.
Additional reporting by Dan Williams, Steven Scheer, Ari Rabinovitch, and Henriette Chacar; Edited by Miral Fahmy and Tomasz Janowski
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