Tens of thousands of Israelis are demonstrating this weekend against a planned judicial reform. President Herzog has also warned of the reform's consequences.
Israeli President Yitzhak Herzog has warned of the consequences of the new government's planned judicial reform. This conflict threatens to tear the nation apart, Herzog said on Sunday. He himself is working to avert a "historic constitutional crisis" and intends to meet with political representatives to facilitate a constructive dialogue between the two sides.
Earlier on Saturday evening, despite the rain, around 80,000 people demonstrated in Tel Aviv against the new government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud) and the plans of Justice Minister Yariv Levin (Likud), according to the online newspaper "Times of Israel." Among the demonstrators were high-ranking opposition politicians, such as former Defense Minister Benny Gantz (Blue and White). Demonstrations also took place in Jerusalem and Haifa. Police reported that the protests were largely peaceful.
Criticism of planned reform
The Chief Justice of Israel's Supreme Court, Esther Chayut, warned on Thursday of a "fatal blow" to judicial independence. She believes the planned judicial reform would completely distort the country's democratic identity. The reform would allow laws to be passed by a simple majority in parliament, even if the Supreme Court deems them unconstitutional. This would effectively abolish the separation of powers.
On Twitter, opposition leader Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid) wrote in reference to the reform: "This is not a legal reform. This is a radical regime change."
Furthermore, Levin intends to change the composition of the panel that appoints Supreme Court justices. This panel currently consists of three Supreme Court justices, two government ministers (including the Justice Minister), two members of the Knesset, and two representatives of the Bar Association. Levin's judicial reform aims to give politicians more influence over the appointment of judges. He accuses the Supreme Court of excessive interference in political decisions. (Israelnetz)
