Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu averred on Sunday, June 18, 2023, that his government intends to move ahead on contentious plans to reform the country’s judicial system.
At a meeting of his Cabinet on Sunday, Netanyahu said the opposition had not been negotiating in good faith and that his government would move ahead cautiously on the overhaul.
“This week, we will begin the practical steps. We will do them in a measured way, responsibly, but in accordance with the mandate we received to make corrections to the justice system,” Netanyahu stated.
Israel experienced one of its greatest domestic crises ever earlier this year as a result of the government’s attempts to reform the judiciary.
Also, a general strike was called for after Netanyahu fired his Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant who disagreed from the plan over widespread threats by military reservists to not show up for duty if the overhaul was approved.
The decision to move ahead is likely to flare tensions and fuel the protest movement that has continued to demonstrate each Saturday, despite the plan being paused.
Negotiations between the government and opposition parties somewhat alleviated the crisis with attempts to find a middle ground over proposed changes to the country’s justice system.
Last week, those talks were held again over a crisis surrounding the powerful regular committee responsible for picking the country’s judges. Opposition leaders said negotiations were frozen until the committee is formed.
The committee for appointing judges which, among other things, approves the makeup of the Supreme Court, has been a central battleground in the overhaul plan.
Both the governing coalition and the opposition traditionally are represented on the nine-member committee. However, proponents of the overhaul had demanded that the coalition control both positions, drawing accusations that Netanyahu and his allies were trying to stack the judiciary with cronies.
Last week, the Parliament appointed the opposition representative to the committee but the second vacancy was not filled, prompting a delay to when the committee can resume its work.
Opposition Leader Issues Caution Concerning Judicial Overhaul
Opposition leader Yair Lapid, whose party had been negotiating with Netanyahu, cautioned that moving ahead unilaterally on the plan “will critically harm the economy, endanger security and rip the Israeli people to shreds.”
Also, protest leaders stated that they were ready for another round of demonstrations that would make sure “every attempt to harm Israel’s democratic justice system will fail.”
Netanyahu’s government, composed of ultranationalist and ultra-religious parties, encountered harsh opposition to the overhaul plan when it was announced earlier this year.
Leading economists, top legal officials and former defense officials warned of dangerous consequences to the country’s future. Even Israel’s chief international ally, the U.S., expressed concern.
The government says the plan is necessary to restore power to elected officials and weaken, what it says, is an interventionist Supreme Court.
Critics say the plan would upend Israel’s delicate system of checks and balances and push the country toward authoritarianism.
