Israel’s judicial reforms approved in first parliamentary hearing

Tel Aviv: The Israeli parliament on Tuesday approved at its first reading, a bill limiting the Supreme Court’s ability to overturn laws it deems unconstitutional, a key element of a judicial reform package that has fuelled months of protests. 

The bill makes it more difficult for the Supreme Court to strike down legislation deemed to contravene the Basic Laws, requiring that a 12-member majority of a 15-judge panel rule in favour. It would also allow parliament, with just a simple majority, to override Supreme Court decisions striking down legislation and deny the court the right to review such a move.

 

The Knesset took until the early hours of Tuesday morning to pass the first reading of the bill by a vote of 61 to 52, though it will still need to be approved at second and third



readings before becoming law. The government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, introduced its judicial reform package in January.

 

In another win for Mr Netanyahu, the Parliament, late on Monday night, also advanced a bill that would make it harder to remove the Prime Minister over the corruption charges that still hang over him.

 

The steps were the latest in a series of moves by Prime Minister Netanyahu’s coalition to modify Israel’s legal system.

 

The Prime Minister and his allies say the effort is aimed at reining in an activist court. Mr Netanyahu and his coalition allies have pledged to plough ahead with the legal changes despite demonstrations by tens of thousands of Israeli protesters over the past two months.