JERUSALEM (HRNW) – Israeli lawmakers on Tuesday gave an initial nod to a bill that limits the Supreme Court’s power to rule against the government after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced he would press on with contentious changes to the justice system.
In a stormy session broadcast live, Parliament’s constitution committee, dominated by Netanyahu’s nationalist-religious ruling coalition, voted in favour of the bill that limits “reasonableness” as a standard of judicial review.
At present, the Supreme Court can rule against the government and elected officials’ decisions if they are deemed unreasonable.
“You have taken the first step today and with God’s help more steps to strengthen Israeli democracy will follow,” said Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
After the committee vote, the shekel weakened by 0.3% against the dollar. The bill still has to pass three readings in parliament to be written into law.
The government’s legislative judicial push, unveiled soon after Netanyahu regained power in late December atop a hard-right cabinet, has set off unprecedented protests, stirred concerns for Israel’s democratic health and dented the economy.