Ignoring protests, Israeli Knesset advances Netanyahu's judicial overhaul
Three major elements of the government’s judicial overhaul plan were approved at first Knesset readings, with second and third readings expected in the coming days.
The Israeli Knesset approved on the eleventh hour on Monday night, the first reading of three bills that are part of the government's controversial judicial overhaul plan even as hundreds of thousands of Israelis continue to protest against the move that would undercut the country's High Court.
Under Israeli law, in order for the bills to be enacted, they must be approved at two more Knesset readings, but Israeli Justice Minister Yariv Levin has set himself the goal of having the judicial overhaul plan adopted by the end of the month.
The first bill approved at a first reading would prevent the High Court from ordering a prime minister to recuse himself or herself from activities in cases of a conflict of interest, that would otherwise effectively impeach the premier. If adopted, the new law would enable only the government, by a three-quarter majority of the ministers, to order the premier to recuse himself or herself. More so, if the prime minister would oppose such a move, only a majority of 90 Knesset members out of 120 could force an impeachment. Only health reasons could generate such a move, the new bill proposes.
Opposition members are arguing that the bill proposed is personal, designed to protect Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is facing trial for bribery, fraud and breach of trust. Hypothetically, the court could demand Netanyahu to recuse himself over the conflict of interest created by him overseeing the judicial overhaul plan while he himself is on trial.
