Published
Video length: 1 min.
Despite mobilization on an unprecedented scale for 28 weeks, the Israeli Parliament voted part of the very controversial justice reform on Monday, July 24. It limits the ability of the Supreme Court to overrule a government decision.
In the Israeli Parliament, a word is chanted by opposition MPs, the word “shame”. Facing them, Benyamin Netanyahu displays a smile of victory. The Prime Minister has just obtained a key point in his judicial reform project. 64 voted for out of a total of 120 deputies. It is a question of increasing the power of the elected officials over the magistrates. The Minister of Justice is also satisfied and says he wants a better balance of powers. “This is the first step in changing our judicial system”did he declare.
Democracy in danger?
As soon as the vote was announced, demonstrators opposed to the reform blocked the roads of Jerusalem. The tension rose all day in front of Parliament. The police had to evacuate protesters. Monster demonstrations have been organized for 30 weeks. It is one of the biggest protest movements in Israel’s history. According to the demonstrators, the reform will lead to an authoritarian drift threatening democracy.