Israel | Parliament passes key controversial judicial reform measure

(Jerusalem) Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu called Monday “a necessary democratic step” the approval by Parliament of a key measure of the controversial judicial reform project carried by his right-wing government, at the origin of a vast protest movement.

“This step aims to restore a balance between the powers […]we voted [cette mesure] so that the elected government can carry out a policy in conformity with the decision of the majority of the citizens”, affirmed Mr. Netanyahou during a televised address.

This measure, which aims to limit the possibility for the Supreme Court to invalidate a decision of the government, was approved by the 64 deputies of the Prime Minister’s coalition, out of a total of 120, despite the vast protest movement and the concern of allied foreign countries.

Opposition politicians boycotted the vote, some shouting “shame, shame”.

Binyamin Netanyahu, 73, took part in the vote after being released from the hospital where he had been admitted for the installation of a pacemaker.

The police had shortly before dispersed with water cannons hundreds of people who were blocking the entrance to the Parliament in Jerusalem.

After the vote, police tried to evacuate protesters who were blocking roads in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Since its announcement in January, the justice reform bill has sparked one of the biggest protests in Israel’s history, which intensified as the vote approached.

The measure voted on Monday, the first of the reform to become law, prevents the Supreme Court from invalidating a government decision by judging its “reasonableness”. It was approved at first reading on July 11.

This so-called “reasonableness” clause had forced Mr. Netanyahu in January to dismiss the number two in the government, Arié Dery, convicted of tax evasion, following the intervention of the Supreme Court.

The reform championed by the government, which includes ultra-Orthodox and far-right Jewish parties, aims to increase the power of elected officials over that of magistrates.

The government believes it is necessary to ensure a better balance of power, but its critics see it as a threat to democracy and fear that it opens the way to an authoritarian drift.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog led last-minute negotiations to reach a compromise between the opposition and the government, citing “a national emergency”.

“Regrettable”

The White House described Monday as “regrettable” the approval of this law.

“It is unfortunate that today’s vote took place with such a small majority,” said US executive spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre.

“As a longtime friend of Israel, President Biden has believed, publicly and privately, that major changes in a democracy, to last, must rally the broadest possible consensus,” the spokeswoman added in a statement.

Mr. Netanyahu said on Monday that he wanted to negotiate with the opposition on the continuation of the reform project and “to lead a dialogue between us”.

At the origin of the project, the Minister of Justice Yariv Levin declared after the vote that he wanted to “reach an agreement” on the rest, “in the interest of the nation”.

Critics of the Prime Minister, on trial for corruption, accuse him of wanting to use this reform to mitigate a possible judgment against him.

The head of the Histadrut trade union center, Arnon Bar David, assured Monday that “any unilateral progress in the reform would have serious consequences”, brandishing the threat of a “general strike if necessary”.

” Put pressure “

“We have to keep protesting and putting pressure on with the hope that they won’t continue,” Danny Akerman, 52, who works in high-tech, told AFP after the vote.

“I hope the government will hear what is happening in the streets […]and maybe something will happen,” added Josh Hakim, a student.

Other provisions also cause discontent, such as the one modifying the process for appointing judges, already adopted by the deputies at first reading.

The demonstrations have attracted Israelis from all political and social backgrounds, secular or religious, peace activists, blue-collar workers or workers in the technology sector, but also army reservists, in a context of rising Israeli-Palestinian violence.