Knesset passes vexed judiciary bill; opposition vows to repeal new law
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What does the controversial bill the Knesset passed stipulate? Will widespread protests follow?
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to reporters after meeting with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., at the Capitol in Washington, on February 7, 2025. (AP)
The Knesset has approved a controversial bill to reshape the judicial selection process, significantly increasing political influence.
Under the new legislation, the two representatives from the Israel Bar Association on the nine-member Judicial Selection Committee will be replaced by one lawyer selected by the coalition and another chosen by the opposition.
The bill also grants veto power to political representatives from the coalition, opposition, and judiciary over lower court appointments, unlike the current system, where no veto exists.
Additionally, the bill removes the influence of the three judges on the committee over Supreme Court appointments while giving veto power to both the coalition and the opposition.
Opposition leaders vow to repeal new law in next government
Leaders of the opposition vowed, in a joint statement, to repeal the new law in the next government.
“The government of Israel has just approved a law with one goal — to ensure that judges become subject to the will of politicians,” the statement read.
“This is happening while 59 hostages are still held in Gaza. Instead of focusing all efforts on bringing them home and healing the divisions in the nation, this government is once again engaging in the very legislation that divided the public before October 7,” it added, asserting that "the government has learned nothing from the disaster. It continues to undermine national resilience, deepen division, and ignore its real tasks: security, the economy and unity.”
'Israel' on brink of civil war
Earlier, on Wednesday evening, Benny Gantz, leader of the National Unity party, met with Justice Minister Yariv Levin as Knesset deliberations continued over changes to the committee responsible for selecting judges.
According to the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation, this amendment is a key pillar of the controversial judicial reforms, which are expected to be finalized tomorrow.
During the meeting, Gantz urged Minister Levin to halt the legislation, warning that "Israel is on the brink of civil war." However, Levin refused to relent. Sources close to him argued that the proposal “intended to heal the rift in the nation."
Meanwhile, Gantz sent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a letter, urging him to reconsider the divisive amendments. In protest of the legislation’s passage without broad consensus, opposition parties signaled a possible boycott of the third and final voting session.
