Benjamin Netanyahu hits back at criticism of Israeli judicial reform

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Benjamin Netanyahu has hit back at criticism of his government’s scathing plans to overhaul Israel’s judiciary, insisting that the bill to be passed next week does not pose a threat to the country’s democracy.

Another day of protests against his reforms followed an intervention by the Israeli prime minister via a prime-time speech on national television. It has sparked the largest wave of protests in Israel’s history, sharp criticism from military reservists and the country’s vital tech sector, and growing expressions of concern from US President Joe Biden.

In his address on Thursday night, Netanyahu blamed his political opponents for the impasse, and expressed hope that there could still be some sort of cross-party agreement on the first part of the overhaul, which is due to face a final parliamentary vote on Monday.

“Even in these moments. , , Efforts are being made to reach a consensus on (the bill). I sincerely hope that these efforts will be successful.” “But if they don’t, the door to a coalition will always be open to you, the citizens of Israel, and to the opposition.”

His comments were dismissed by his political opponents. Yair Lapid, head of the largest opposition party Yesh Atid, said the bill being introduced by the government amounted to “removing one of the foundations of our democratic system” and urged Netanyahu to stop it.

“What we have seen tonight is a Prime Minister who is dividing the country instead of uniting it,” he wrote on Twitter. “Stop the law because we are one nation and we must remain one nation.”

The bill would limit the ability of Israel’s top court to use the test of reasonableness to overturn government decisions on issues such as public appointments.

The measure is part of a wide range of proposals put forward by Netanyahu’s government – widely regarded as the most right-wing in Israeli history – aimed at reining in the judiciary.

Government officials say change is needed because Israel’s top court has usurped powers it was never formally granted, and has used them to advance a partisan, left-wing agenda .

But critics see the change as a naked political attempt to weaken some of the checks and balances on the Israeli administration, which they argue will pave the way for corruption and an end to minority rights.

Hundreds of thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets every week since the government announced its plans in January, with protest organizers vowing to stage more demonstrations ahead of Monday’s vote.

Reservists – who play a key role in Israel’s military – have been a key part of the opposition to the overhaul, and in recent days hundreds have threatened to stop reporting for voluntary duty if it is passed.

In his speech, Netanyahu hit back at these threats, saying that “refusing to serve puts the safety of all of us at risk”.

“When elements in the military try to force policy on the government with threats, it is unacceptable in any democracy,” he said. “If they succeed in directing their threats, that is the end of real democracy.”

However, earlier on Thursday, several former senior security officials spoke out against Netanyahu’s plans. Tamir Pardo, former head of the Mossad intelligence agency, said that if the rationality bill was passed, it would be “the end of democracy”.

“We will be like Iran and Hungary,” he said. “Democracy in appearance, dictatorship in practice.”