Israeli Supreme Court hears challenge to Netanyahu’s contentious judicial overhaul that will ‘destroy democracy’
- The amendment limits the powers of the top court to review and sometimes overturn government decisions, which opponents say paves the way to authoritarian rule
- Netanyahu’s coalition government argues the legal changes are needed to rebalance powers between politicians and the judiciary
Israel’s Supreme Court convened on Tuesday to hear petitions to strike down a key plank of the hard-right government’s controversial judicial overhaul that has triggered mass protests and divided the nation.
A full 15-judge panel of the top court began hearing pleas against the amendment of the so-called “reasonableness clause” that the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu passed through parliament in July.
A regular panel is made up of three justices, though they sometimes sit on expanded panels. The proceedings were also being live-streamed.
The amendment limits the powers of the top court to review and sometimes overturn government decisions, which opponents say paves the way to authoritarian rule.
Dozens of noisy protesters gathered outside the court building as the hearing began, banging drums, blowing whistles, chanting and waving Israeli flags.
Since the government unveiled the plans in January, opponents have rallied weekly in their tens of thousands in cities across Israel.
The protesters have come largely from the country’s secular middle class. Leading hi-tech business figures have threatened to relocate. Perhaps most dramatic, thousands of military reservists have broken with the government and declared their refusal to report for duty over the plan.