The judicial amendments bill plunged Israel into one of its worst political crises, and ignited a wave of anger and protest that could topple the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. What was this project that ignited Israel?
During the last period, Netanyahu tried to introduce radical changes to the judicial system, especially since the right-wingers in Israel believe that the Supreme Court leans to the left and interferes greatly in political affairs, and gives priority to the rights of minorities over national interests.
The prime minister had no choice but to press for changes that would limit the powers of the court in issuing rulings against the legislative and executive branches, and give deputies more power to appoint judges, which requires the approval of politicians and judges who are members of the relevant committee, which would give the government more influence.
However, this project was rejected and supported by some, and supported names emerged, including the Israeli Minister of Internal Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, who said that the judicial amendments should not be retracted, warning Netanyahu, who changed his position as a result of street pressure, of dissolving the government if the amendment was suspended.
Justice Minister Yariv Levin called on the government to adhere to the plans, threatening to submit his resignation, then he also returned under the pressure of the flaming street and demonstrations, to announce that he was convinced of the importance of postponing the judicial amendments for now, supporting Netanyahu's decision on this file, while Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich considered that stopping the judicial amendments means "Caving in to chaos."
However, the dismissed Israeli Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, opposed the project, and saw that the division over amendments to the judicial system represented a direct threat to Israel's security. He considered that Israel's international standing was at stake. This was supported by the head of the opposition, Yair Lapid, who relied on the Likud leaders to stop what he called “the government’s madness” regarding its insistence on judicial amendments. Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and Education Minister Yoav Kisch advised halting the legislation. Israeli President Isaac Herzog entered the line and called on the government to stop these controversial amendments.
The beginning was with Justice Minister Yariv Levin, who revealed on the fourth of last January his intention to amend the judicial system and include in it an “exception” that would allow parliament to suspend Supreme Court decisions, in a step he understood as the government’s endeavor to give priority to the authority of deputies over the authority of judges, at a time when a trial was taking place. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on corruption charges.
"There are judges, but there is also a parliament and a government," Levin told the media. "Democracy is in danger when we cast our votes at the ballot box, but every time unelected people decide on our behalf."
Among the most prominent changes proposed by Levin in his project, which sparked an unprecedented debate in Israel and caused the dismissal of the Minister of Defense, is the so-called “exception clause” that allows parliamentarians, by a simple majority, to cancel a decision issued by the Supreme Court, especially since in Israel, which does not have a constitution, The Supreme Court can annul laws passed by the Knesset if it considers that they contradict the basic laws of the country.
Passing the "exception clause" would allow Parliament to put into practice a law rejected by the judges. However, these amendments fueled the protests, and thousands took to the streets of Tel Aviv, and the professional and medical unions announced a strike until the project was withdrawn.
The strike at Ben Gurion Airport paralyzed air traffic and prevented planes from taking off from Tel Aviv, while the sacked Minister of Defense warned of security risks besetting the country, amid the huge rift.
Okaz (Jeddah) @okaz_online