Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (center) attends a parliament session in Jerusalem on July 24, 2023, amid a months-long wave of protests against the government's planned judicial overhaul. (PHOTO / AFP)
JERUSALEM – Israeli lawmakers passed on Monday a key bill of the far-right government's contentious judicial overhaul plan with 64 in favor and zero against, as opposition lawmakers boycotted the final vote.
Netanyahu's coalition has been determined to push back against what it describes as overreach by a Supreme Court that it says has become too politically interventionist
The law cancels the Supreme Court's power to override decisions by the ministers that it deems "unreasonable" and is a key part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's divisive plan to weaken the Supreme Court and reshape the legal system.
Justice Minister Yariv Levin hailed the move as "the first step in the historical process of correcting the judicial system" after the final round of votes.
Police used a water cannon to disperse demonstrators opposed to the judicial campaign by Netanyahu's nationalist-religious coalition and officers dragged away protesters who had chained themselves to posts and blocked the road outside parliament.
"You cannot reach agreements that safeguard Israel's democracy with this government," opposition leader Yair Lapid told Israeli television channels at the Knesset minutes before the voting began.
With banks and businesses joining in the protest, pressure mounted on Netanyahu, who was released from hospital on Monday morning after a two-night stay during which he was fitted with a pacemaker.
Netanyahu has been urged by Washington on the one side to reach a compromise with the opposition, while his coalition partners are pushing for legislation to go ahead with more judicial changes to follow.
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The crisis has spread to the military, with protest leaders saying thousands of volunteer reservists would not report for duty if the government continues with the plans and former top brass warning that Israel's war-readiness could be at risk.
Disaster
"We're on our way to a disaster," Lapid told lawmakers during the stormy debate. "If you vote for this bill you will weaken the state of Israel, the people of Israel and the Israel Defence Forces."
It would be the first change written into law from a package critics fear aims to curb judicial independence, but which Netanyahu – who is on trial on corruption charges he denies – insists are needed for balance among branches of government.
Demonstrators wave Israeli flags as they march in Jerusalem on July 22, 2023, during a multi-day march that started in Tel Aviv to protest the government's judicial overhaul bill ahead of a vote in the parliament. (PHOTO / AFP)
"There's no reason to fear this amendment. There are many reasons to see it as an important step toward restoring balance between the branches of government as respecting the voters' choice," said Levin.
Netanyahu's coalition has been determined to push back against what it describes as overreach by a Supreme Court that it says has become too politically interventionist.
Critics say Monday's amendment has been rushed through parliament and will open the door to abuses of power by removing one of the few effective checks on the executive's authority in a country without a formal written constitution.
The government announced its plans for judiciary changes in January, soon after it was sworn in, stirring concern among allies abroad for Israel's democratic health and denting the economy.
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The Shekel has weakened around 8 percent since.
Israel's two biggest banks, Leumi and Hapoalim, said they would allow workers to demonstrate on Monday without losing pay.
A forum of some 150 of Israel's largest companies went on strike and Azrieli and Big, two of Israel's largest malls, said stores in their shopping centres would remain closed.