Hundreds of thousands of Israelis have protested for the 13th week in a row against a judicial overhaul proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hard-right government. The government’s reform package, which aimed to curb the powers of the Supreme Court and grant politicians greater powers over the selection of judges, has been suspended while talks are held with party representatives. Critics have viewed the reforms as a threat to the court’s independence and an attempt at a legal coup. Proponents have said they aim to create a less elitist, interventionist bench. Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption charges, said the reforms are needed to balance the branches of government.
The Umbrella movement, which has been organizing the protests against the judicial overhaul in Israel, declared that Netanyahu’s attempt to silence the protesters had failed, with over 445,000 pro-democracy demonstrators taking to the streets in one of the largest demonstrations in Israeli history. The movement vowed to continue protesting until they guarantee that Israel remains a democracy. However, many political commentators and opposition figures remain sceptical about the chances of President Herzog’s mediation efforts, with the coalition saying it will complete the legislation in the next parliamentary session if talks fail.
The proposed judicial overhaul in Israel has been highly controversial, with strong opinions on both sides of the issue. Critics of the government’s reform package have argued that it would curtail the authority of the Supreme Court and give politicians greater powers over the selection of judges, which they see as a threat to the court’s independence and Israeli democracy. They have also accused the government of attempting a legal coup. On the other hand, proponents of the reforms have argued that the changes are necessary to balance the powers of the judiciary and the legislature. They argue that the current system is too elitist and interventionist and that greater political involvement is needed to ensure that the courts are more representative of the Israeli people. The issue has sparked widespread protests across Israel, with hundreds of thousands of people taking to the streets to voice their opposition to the government’s plans. The government has suspended the proposed legislation for now, and talks are underway to find a compromise that both sides can accept.
