Israeli parliament advances bill that may override top court

Netanyahu and his ultranationalist and ultra-Orthodox allies seek to enact a series of laws that would severely restrict the authority of the Supreme Court, which they believe has had unchecked power
Associated Press|
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Israel’s parliament advanced a bill Wednesday that would enable lawmakers to overturn a Supreme Court decision with a simple majority, a law that critics say would severely erode the country’s democratic checks and balances.
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  • The “Supreme Court override” bill’s approval in a preliminary vote in the Knesset was the latest step by Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling coalition toward realizing the judicial overhaul that is steaming ahead despite calls for dialogue and consensus from American Jews and Israel’s president, and weekly protest by tens of thousands of Israelis.
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    מליאת הכנסת
    מליאת הכנסת
    Benjamin Netanyahu and Yariv Levin
    (Photo: Amit Shabi)
    Netanyahu and his ultranationalist and ultra-Orthodox allies seek to enact a series of laws that would severely restrict the authority of the Supreme Court, which they believe has had unchecked power for years. Critics say they will erode democratic norms, concentrate power with the ruling coalition in parliament, and make Israel an illiberal democracy.
    The Netanyahu administration’s proposed judicial overhaul have drawn fierce opposition and vocal protest in Israel and abroad.
    2 View gallery
    צעדה בירושלים במחאה על הרפורמה המשפטית
    צעדה בירושלים במחאה על הרפורמה המשפטית
    Demonstration protesting government legislation on Monday
    (Photo: Shalev Shalom)
    Earlier this week parliament approved a first reading of bills to give the governing coalition control over judicial appointments and strip the court of judicial review over Basic Laws — Israel’s quasi-constitutional legislation.
    A draft bill brought before parliament Wednesday would require a unanimous Supreme Court decision to amend or strike down a law for violating a Basic Law, and that parliament would be able to pass laws impervious to Supreme Court review even if it violates a Basic Law. The preliminary vote passed 61-52.
    Each of these bills now faces committee approval before final votes in parliament to pass them into law.
    Netanyahu returned to power as prime minister in December at the head of the country’s most hardline and religious government in its almost 75-year history following Israel’s fifth election in less than four years. The longtime leader’s trial for charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes has dragged on for nearly three years.
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    Cant help feeling it smacks
    Of sour grapes and self preservation.With Deri a convicted felon and Natanyahu's legal woes we wonder whether its "reform" or manipulation of the legal system for theirs and others benefit.No one is above the law but in this case would they be?
    Naor| 02.22.23
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    1.
    We need judicial reform now!
    Our votes should matter. The unelected, self appointed leftist activists on the Supreme Court should not dictate to the rest of us. The left in israel is only a tiny part of an international leftist movement that is out to grab power at all costs. That is why you have this “parade of leftists” from around the world demanding that israel not touch this source of unelected power for the left. I found it pretty weird that they had Black Lives Matter protests in England and holland. The left is international and the left in israel is loyal first and foremost to the left, not to israel. Did you see that the high-tech left were threatening to boycott israel?
    David| 02.22.23
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