Israeli society facing flare-up over Netanyahu’s judicial shakeup
The two camps supporting the Netanyahu government’s judicial shake-up and those opposing it have resorted to aggressive words and threats.
Dozens of Israeli high-tech people are demonstrating in Tel Aviv on Tuesday against the judicial overhaul advanced by the Netanyahu government. Reports say that the demonstrators are blocking roads, ignoring instructions by police to go back to the sidewalk.
The chair of the Knesset’s Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, Simcha Rothman, this week announced a timetable for voting on the government’s judicial overhaul, bringing closer the specter of violence between its opponents and advocates. Prospects of such a clash, which appeared unlikely just weeks ago, now assume greater likelihood as the government coalition barrels ahead with a legislative blitz that critics fear will irrevocably damage Israeli democracy.
Its authors — Rothman and Justice Minister Yariv Levin — plan to bring two of the measures to a preliminary plenum vote within a week to 10 days, handing politicians control of judicial appointments and depriving the Supreme Court of its power to overturn quasi-constitutional basic laws.
Backed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and assured of a Knesset majority, Rothman and Levin are forging ahead toward authoritarian rule, ignoring the intense public opposition, the grave warnings, the weakening shekel and the threats by investors and bankers.
