The democracy of any nation stands on three strong pillars– The legislative, executive, and judiciary.
From potent professional competence to high ethical behavior and a firm commitment to national development, these pillars act as unbiased resources for people and protect the nation’s unity.
But one shaky pillar can collapse the entire democracy, inching toward an authoritarian society.
On 24th July, the Israeli government passed a bill that would shake up the core of the country’s judiciary.
The infamous “reasonableness” bill was passed to limit the supreme court’s role in the government’s decisions. The direct implication of this law is that the supreme court can no longer contest or reject the decisions on the grounds of being “unreasonable.”
What Is the Israel Judicial Overhaul?
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition allies proposed a bill that undermines the judiciary rights of democracy. The opposition party chanted “Shame, Shame” while the reform was presented in parliament.
Netanyahu’s coalition is the liaison of most right-wing ideologies in the history of Israeli politics. Moreover, the Prime Minister has been under scrutiny for fraud, breach of trust, bribery, and corruption charges while the people questioned the ruling party’s decision to deregulate the government’s policies. Subsequently, people were charged on the streets to protest against the unlawful reform and pressure the government to repeal it. And the government’s decision to still proceed despite people’s resistance is a testament to a new way of administration (tipping to authoritarian).
The bill was finally passed on July 24, restricting the supreme court’s responsibility in regulating the government. The top court can no longer exercise the right to revoke the government’s policies and appointments on the basis of “reasonabiltiy.”
The initial draft of the bill included a clause that would give the Knesset the power to contest Supreme Court verdicts by a simple majority. However, Netanyahu has dropped that piece of the overhaul.
And in the final attempt to concentrate the power, the reform proposes a new protocol for appointing judges. More power will be given to the politicians for the appointment process, although a single political party will not manage the complete control of the Supreme Court.
A new policy is introduced in the reform that allows ministers to have political appointees as legal advisers in their ministries.
Israel Judicial Reform– For and Against Arguments
Supporters of the Israel Judicial Reform
Justice Minister Yariv Levin defended the bill during the marathon parliamentary debate stating that the reform intends to restore the balance between government branches.
He further reiterates that “there is no reason to fear this amendment. There are many reasons to see it as an important step in returning the balance between the government branches” and that the administration has taken a “cautious path.”
Opposition to the Israel Judicial Reform
Opposition leader Yair Lapid condemned the decisions as a “defeat for Israeli democracy.”
“The government can decide a policy but not change the character of the State of Israel, and that’s what happened today,” said Lapid.
One of Isreal’s allies is the United States Of America. President Joe Biden has expressed his concern in the White House Statement as he states–
“Major changes in a democracy, to be enduring, must have as broad a consensus as possible.”
“It is unfortunate that the vote today took place with the slimmest possible majority,” said the statement.
The former Prime Minister of Isreal brings light to the complete disregard for Israel’s foundation of democracy–
Ahmad Tibi, a Palestinian member of the Knesset, told Al Jazeera that the law “weakens and eliminates any form of supervision that the Supreme Court has over the decisions of the government.”
Especially in the case where “decisions that have to do with official appointments and other major decisions.”
What is your opinion on the Israeli government’s decision? Do you believe that this is an attempt to overthrow the power of the Supreme Court? Or will this decision actually restore the balance between the administration?
Let us know in the comments section below.
