'Israel' ignores settler dissent, moves forward with judicial overhaul

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Despite weeks of protests from Israeli settlers, the Knesset voted in favor of going through with the judicial reform legislation criticized as undermining the separation of power within "Israel". 

Settlers across "Israel" have been vehemently protesting the legislation under the pretext of it being a threat to "democracy", namely how it increases the authority of politicians over judges. 

Read more: Israelis protest judicial reform bill before vote

This morning, 63 members of the occupation's Knesset, more than the absolute majority of the quorum, voted in favor of the bill during the first reading. 

Before passing to its second and third readings in the Knesset, the bill will return to the law committee for further discussion.

Read more: Israeli Knesset gives initial approval to 'judicial reforms' bill

The proposed legislation would prevent courts from overturning any amendments made by the government to "Israel's" quasi-constitutional "Basic Laws", in addition to giving more weight to the government in the judge selection committee.  

The legislation undermining the judiciary's independence is fundamental to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's administration, which is constituted by a coalition of extremist Zionist parties. 

Occupation President Isaac Herzog, who had been aiming to mediate the crisis between the ruling Israeli parties and the opposition, voiced concern over the divisiveness of the legislation, whereby it threatens the unity of the settler population. 

"This is a difficult morning," he said. "Many people fear for the nation's unity," 

"We need to make every effort to continue dialogue after this vote, to reach an agreed framework to take us out of this difficult period," he added

Additionally, Esther Hayut, the head of the Occupation Supreme Court, has denounced the reform as an attack on the judiciary's independence in "Israel".

UN rights chief Volker Turk implicitly condemned the initiated legislation in a statement saying that it  "would drastically undermine the ability of the judiciary to vindicate individual rights and to uphold the rule of law".

"Experience in Israel, and around the world, has shown the enduring value of a judiciary that can independently hold the other branches of government to the fundamental legal standards of a society set out in its basic laws," Volker added.

Read more: Enemies of 'Israel' happy with internal division: Israeli media

The big picture

Political divisions in "Israel" between the government and the opposition are escalating in light of the exchange of accusations of responsibility for the possible outbreak of an "internal war", as "Israel" is witnessing demonstrations held by thousands of settlers against the government of Benjamin Netanyahu.

This comes shortly after leaders within the Israeli occupation spoke about the ongoing division in "Israel" exposed by the results of the latest legislative elections.

Herzog said during a speech on the 27th anniversary of the killing of former Israeli occupation Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin that "the complicated political status quo in Israel poses somewhat of a historic challenge for us."

Meanwhile, former Israeli occupation Security Minister Benny Gantz called Israeli settlers to take to the streets in protest of changes to the Israeli "judicial" system that Benjamin Netanyahu's government proposed.

The demonstrators repeated chants against the new Israeli occupation government and some of its extremist ministers such as Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich, as per Israeli media.

Following his November 1 election win, Netanyahu took office late last month at the head of a coalition with Haganah-minded parties, some of whose officials now head key ministries. The new occupation government has announced intentions to pursue a policy of settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.