After massive protests: Israeli government delays justice reform

After weeks of mass protests in Israel, the right-wing government wants to slow the pace of its controversial judicial reform, but one key element is due to be decided before the end of the month, as planned.

Coalition party leaders led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday that some bills on judiciary restructuring will not be presented to parliament until the start of the summer session in late April. The opposition should therefore use the time “to have real negotiations, to agree on laws”.

However, a somewhat watered-down bill on the composition of the judges’ selection committee should be passed in early April, the statement said. The change in the appointment of judges is seen as a central part of the comprehensive legislative project.

According to media reports, the new proposal would allow the government to select two judges for the Supreme Court itself. However, unlike an earlier draft, other appointments by the then eleven-member body must be approved by at least one member of the opposition and at least one judge. In the new proposal, however, the government would still have a narrow majority in the committee.

According to Haaretz newspaper, organizers of the protest movement in Israel said the change was “a declaration of war by the Israeli government against the people and Israeli democracy.” Opposition leader Jair Lapid said the government’s proposal was a “hostile political takeover of the judiciary”. The selection committee of judges would thus become a “committee on the appointment of cronies”.

For more than two months, there have been massive protests against the government’s plans. In the future, parliament should also be able to annul decisions of the Supreme Court by simple majority. Critics see the separation of powers in danger and warn of a dangerous state crisis. Netanyahu rejected a compromise proposal from Israeli President Izchak Herzog. The opposition supported the proposal.

(yam/sda/dpa)