Israel's Supreme Court ruled on Monday to overturn Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's controversial law restricting judicial powers that threatens to send Israel back into civil disintegration as the war with Hamas continues.
The high court narrowly struck down a law enacted in July that prohibited judges from reversing government decisions they deemed “unreasonable.”
The Middle Eastern county saw months of massive protests leading up to the passage of the highly controversial bill as part of a plan to reform the justice system. The bill was passed with 64 votes in the 120-member Diet.
But the overhaul was suspended after Hamas militants caught Israel by surprise when it attacked the Jewish state on October 7, killing 1,200 people and kidnapping another 240.
In an 8-7 majority ruling on Monday, the Supreme Court said it was striking down the law because of its “serious and unprecedented harm to the core character of the State of Israel as a democracy.”
The court also found that parliament is not “omnipotent” and held that judges have the power to override key parts of the “fundamental law,” or a country's constitution-like law.
Opponents argued that the review would weaken checks and balances between government departments and move Israel away from Western democratic norms. They feared that this would lead to corruption and nepotism in key government positions.
Prime Minister Netanyahu and his allies say the changes will strengthen democracy by limiting the power of unelected judges and instead putting more power in the hands of elected officials. he claimed.
Opponents of the review saw it as a way to consolidate power and limit the court's powers, as Netanyahu is on trial on corruption charges.
Monday's ruling could reignite civil unrest, although divisions in the country have been largely ignored due to the war.
The decision was made as President Esther Hayut marks her last day in office on Monday, as she prepares to step down.
with post wire
