The meeting in the Knesset’s justice committee began with a tumult. Outraged opposition politicians stood up, some climbing onto the conference table, to loudly protest and shout at the chairman. At least a couple of politicians were escorted out by security personnel.
The bill was finally approved by nine votes to seven.
It was a first step. This is followed by a first vote in the entire assembled parliament. Such a vote is expected to take place next Monday. For the proposal to become law, three parliamentary votes are required.
An estimated 80,000 to 90,000 protesters gathered outside the parliament building in Jerusalem as the politicians debated, according to Israeli media.
They waved Israeli flags, had placards with texts such as “Save Israeli democracy” and chanted “No to dictatorship”.
Lapid: The end of democracy
The new far-right government’s proposal aims to give politicians significant control over the country’s highest court.
The former prime minister, opposition leader Yair Lapid, says at a press conference that the change, if it becomes reality, could mean “the end of the country’s democratic era”. He calls Netanyahu’s government “extremist and corrupt”.
Former Defense Minister Benny Gantz says that the opposition is united in the fight against what he calls an “assassination of democracy”.
According to Netanyahu, the legislation is necessary to rein in a judicial branch that he says has been given too much power.
– Stop dragging the country into anarchy, Netanyahu said to the opposition on Monday.
Weakened judicial power
The mastermind behind it, Minister of Justice Yariv Levin, wants to give the government the power to appoint judges in the country’s courts through the changes in the law. Furthermore, the Supreme Court’s ability to review proposed legislation must be weakened.
According to the plan, the politicians in the parliament will also be able to override the Supreme Court’s decision by a simple majority.
The critics fear that the country’s balance of power and democracy risk being fundamentally damaged.