Basic clause of judicial reform passes 1st reading in Israeli Knesset

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
11 Jul 2023 11:00

The Israeli Occupation Knesset grants preliminary approval to a draft law that limits some of the powers of the Occupation's Supreme Court, as part of proposed judicial reforms pushed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israeli Occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks on a mobile phone as he sits at the Knesset, in Al-Quds, Monday, July 10, 2023. (AP)

On Monday night, the Occupation's Knesset approved, in a first reading, a key clause of the judicial reform that limits the powers of the Supreme Court. The judicial reform plan had, over the past months, led to a series of settler protests across occupied Palestine.

The text, which was approved in a first reading, on Monday night, aims to eliminate the possibility for the judiciary to decide on the “reasonability” of government decisions.

While the bill faces fierce opposition, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims that it aims to balance the powers by reducing the powers of the occupation's Supreme Court in favor of its Knesset.

The text was approved, in the first reading, during a turbulent session. The Netanyahu coalition had unanimously voted for the bill while the opposition unanimously voted against, marking the votes 64 to 56 in favor of the coalition.

In turn, opposition leader Yair Lapid, said in a speech to lawmakers denounced the bill, “You promised to help the weak, and to protect Israel’s security… you are doing nothing but this craziness.”

The opposition declared a general mobilization day on Tuesday against the bill, which will be put to a vote in a second and then a third reading.

The text, which was approved in the first reading, affects the appointment of ministers. In January, an Occupation Supreme Court decision forced Netanyahu to dismiss the second-in-command in the government, Aryeh Deri, convicted of tax evasion.

Lapid, on that note, highlighted, "At least tell the truth...This is a law that says you can appoint a convicted criminal as a minister.”

Riot in Knesset

Israeli media reported on Monday that settlers attempted to storm the Knesset in protest against the judicial amendments, noting that the guards forcibly removed them.

"The demonstrators tried to forcefully enter the plenary session of the Knesset, which is very rare," Yara Shapira, Kan's correspondent for Knesset affairs, said.

This came in conjunction with the Israeli Knesset members' discussion of the judicial overhaul, which sparked a wave of anger against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and revealed the size of the existing division within "Israel".

Simultaneously, the head of the occupation, Isaac Herzog, said, "Our weapon of social cohesion is threatened with collapse and erosion."

Clashes erupted between illegal Israeli settlers and the occupation security forces after settlers stormed the Knesset as part of their protest against the judicial reforms proposed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.#Palestine pic.twitter.com/Vk57FE8GO6
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) July 10, 2023

Israeli media announced that a "riot" was taking place in the Knesset after settlers tried to storm the meeting room before the vote on the "reasonableness" bill.

The Israeli protest leaders vowed to organize demonstrations the likes of which "Israel" had not seen, threatening to block traffic throughout the occupied territories, including Ben Gurion International Airport.

Israeli settlers protesting against the Israeli occupation government's planned judicial reform blocked the main highway in "Tel Aviv", a Sputnik correspondent reported yesterday.

Over 100,000 Israelis gathered for a protest in central "Tel Aviv" on the 27th consecutive Saturday. Most of the demonstrators dispersed on Saturday night, but a group of protesters blocked the Ayalon Highway, shouting slogans against the government of Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.