Israel’s parliament ratifies Netanyahu’s contested law limiting Supreme Court powers amid protests, White House criticism
- The vote came after a stormy session in which opposition lawmakers chanted ‘shame’ and then stormed out of the chamber
- Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv; police tried to clear crowds with water cannons spraying skunk-scented water
Israel’s parliament on Monday approved the first major law in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s contentious plan to overhaul the country’s justice system, triggering a new burst of mass protests and drawing accusations that he was pushing the country toward authoritarian rule.
As Netanyahu’s allies celebrated their victory and vowed to press ahead with more changes, thousands of protesters took to the streets of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and opponents said they would challenge the new law in the Supreme Court.
“It’s a sad day,” opposition leader Yair Lapid said after the vote. “This is not a victory for the coalition. This is the destruction of Israeli democracy.”
The overhaul calls for sweeping changes aimed at curbing the powers of the judiciary, from limiting the Supreme Court’s ability to challenge parliamentary decisions to changing the way judges are selected.
Netanyahu and his allies say the changes strengthen democracy by limiting the authority of unelected judges and giving elected officials more powers over decision-making.
But protesters see the overhaul as a power grab fuelled by personal and political grievances of Netanyahu – who is on trial for corruption charges – and his partners.
His allies, who include ultranationalist and ultrareligious parties, have called for increased West Bank settlement construction, annexation of the occupied territory, perpetuating military draft exemptions for ultra-Orthodox men, and limiting the rights of LGBTQ people and Palestinians.