Disputed Netanyahu bill passed, situation in 'Israel' on shaky ground
6 Min Read
The Knesset approves a bill to restrict the "reasonableness law" after the opposition boycotts vote session and promises escalation plans.
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Israeli protesters block a road and hold Israeli flags as they gather around a bonfire during an anti-judicial reforms demonstration in "Tel Aviv" on March 27, 2023 (AFP)
The Israeli occupation Knesset passed in a final vote a bill to introduce limitations on the "reasonableness law", which prompts the government to sideline the Supreme Court's power to veto or review decisions made by the ruling echelon, represented today by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his right-wing coalition.
Since the early hours of Monday, protesters opposing the bill, which is a cornerstone of Netanyahu's judicial reform plan, swarmed occupied territories. Angry settlers gathered in massive crowds outside the Knesset before and during the vote.
Read more: Israeli division deepens, protesters block road to Knesset
Meanwhile, Netanyahu left the room just after casting his vote and ahead of the cabinet announcing its final decision and has so far maintained silence while the entity is in flames.
Violent clashes broke out between demonstrators against the overhaul and occupation police ahead of the vote and later intensified after the cabinet greenlighted the legislation. Ongoing attempts by settlers to storm the Knesset have been brutally faced by law enforcement using water cannons and mounted officers to disperse the angry crowds.
Fight them to the very end
"Begin Road" in occupied Al-Quds was packed with protesters that blocked traffic on the major thoroughfare, while Israeli police are trying to pull them out of the way, to no avail so far.
However, after protesters announced a major protest rally at 6 pm (Occupied Palestine time) - which will include former senior government and military officials - there are fears that the attempts will be successful in breaking into the governmental institutions.
Read more: 'Israel' in very sensitive, complex security situation: Former-General
According to Israeli media, the Israeli police chief announced his forces' readiness to prevent the scenario of storming the Knesset, announcing that efforts to disperse the gathered demonstrators continue.
Meanwhile, the organizers of the protests declared that the opposition crowds will “fight them [Netanyahu's government] to the very end.”
“We’ve only just begun.”
The opposition coalition, comprising 56 members and mainly represented by former Prime Minister Yair Lapid, boycotted the final vote, resulting in the bill passing with 0 opposition votes and 64 in favor.
For several days, political parties with clashing ideologies have been engaged in intense negotiations, striving to reach a consensus agreement. President Issac Herzog has played a crucial role as the mediator in these talks.
Read more: Israeli army faces threat of disintegration: Israeli think tank
However, the discussions collapsed just moments before the government session, leaving the entire occupation entity in a state of turmoil. The situation is expected to exacerbate existing divisions and could potentially lead to further strife within "Israel".
As per the law's draft, courts are forbidden from subjecting cabinet and ministerial decisions, such as appointments and the decision not to exercise vested authorities, to any form of scrutiny based on "reasonableness".
Only the beginning
Netanyahu-affiliated "Justice" Minister Yariv Levin congratulated the coalition on the approval of the disputed legislation, considering that the right-wing parties took "the first step in a historic process to correct the judicial system."
Echoing Yariv's joy, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich praised the ruling and blamed the opposition for the negotiations reaching a dead end ahead of the vote, accusing the latter of refusing to offer compromises.
The loudest statement, however, came from Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who announced that this is "only the beginning."
"For the sake of a more Jewish and more democratic State of Israel, we must pass the rest of the reform, first of all changing the composition of the committee for selecting judges and changing the powers of the prosecutors."
Government of destruction
But opposers to Netanyahu's overhaul, both from political parties and non-governmental organizations, declared that this will not go without consequences.
Addressing Netanyahu and his allies, Lapid sounded the alarm that the government has placed the entity today at a crossroads, noting that he will be submitting an appeal to the Supreme Court to have the bill annulled.
“This is a complete breaking of the rules of the game,” Lapid said from a conference room inside the Knesset. “The government and coalition can choose what direction the state goes in, but it can’t decide the character of the state,” he added.
This "extreme government is celebrating the moment when" when society is no longer "brotherly people".
Read more: 'Israel' edges towards instability, protesters numbers reach 550k
"We saw a show of weakness by Netanyahu, there is no prime minister in Israel. He is a puppet on a string of extremists," he concluded.
Other opposition parties were more aggressive with their statements, describing the Netanyahu-controlled system as “the government of destruction."
The government "raised its malicious hand against" the Israeli entity, said Eliad Shraga, chief of the Movement for Quality Government opposition party.
"Now it’s the Supreme Court’s turn to step up and prevent this legislation,” he added.
The Histadrut Labor Federation - or "Israel's" General Federation of Labour; the largest, most influential, and oldest labor and economic organization in the entity - released a warning to the ruling political parties.
“From this moment on any unilateral advancement of the reform will have grave consequences,” said the head of the union, Arnon Bar-David.
He further confirmed that the steps will include a "full strike” of the union's workers across the entire occupied territories.
Historical battle
According to Israeli media, thousands of opposition settlers gathered at the Knesset gates are calling for “democracy or rebellion," while chanting "shame", in reference to the approval of the bill.
"Anyone who isn’t here right now is not present at the most important battle in the history" of the Israeli entity, one outraged protester told an Israeli media outlet.
Through the news outlet, he called on demonstrators on the ground and observers to take their phones and "message five people. Everyone needs to come right now."
"We are not afraid,” he shouted.
