Yair Lapid spoke with clear urgency, urging, in his words, that if Israel’s supporters cared for the country, they should halt the proposed judicial overhaul today. Yet those calls did not stop the ruling coalition. The situation grew tense as the far right government led by Benjamin Netanyahu opened a lengthy debate over the first bill in a planned legal reform package. Thousands of Israelis gathered at the gates of the Knesset, the country’s parliament, signaling broad concern about the direction of judicial changes. Business leaders, military officials, and many citizens warned against seismic shifts in the balance of power, while international observers urged restraint from the United States.
In the midst of the discussion, tens of thousands of people took to the streets as lawmakers debated the initial vote on the bill. A second weekday of street action joined a weekly cycle of protests that have, for weeks, kept the pressure on the new administration. The ongoing demonstrations have earned the nickname Israeli Spring, a visual tapestry of white and blue flags across major cities. Despite the scale and persistence of these protests, members of the government with the strongest rightward tilt in Israel’s history have largely remained unmoved for two months.
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Protesters were labeled as threatening Israeli democracy by Prime Minister Netanyahu when asked about the demonstrations. In response, Itamar Ben Gvir, the national security minister, criticized police for allowing roadblocks and disruptions. As demonstrations spread through Jerusalem, opposition lawmakers extended the Knesset debate, aiming to prevent the first bill on judicial reform from becoming law. The discussions touched on the process of selecting judges and the broader framework created by the Constitution, Law and Justice Commission. There is concern that the reform could effectively place judicial appointments under tighter government control.
Moreover, new legislation would redefine the role of the Supreme Court, which anchors the country with basic laws acting as a de facto constitution in the absence of a Magna Carta. Supporters of the reform argue it curbs judicial overreach, while critics warn it would strip the judiciary of important powers. Critics such as Gideon Saar of the Israel Democracy Institute stated that the changes threaten to politicize the courts. While Netanyahu is a central figure in these debates, other cabinet members share in the civil cases and legal questions surrounding the reforms.
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Analysts note that the proposed measures could be pushed through more quickly by a coalition holding 64 of 120 seats in the Knesset. Justice Minister Yariv Levin has expressed confidence that the first phase of judicial transformation could be completed before Passover in early April. The political divisions in Israel were visible again as crowds of supporters from across the political spectrum gathered in the streets to express solidarity and opposition. Observers cite a deep clash over the balance between the executive, the judiciary, and the legislature, with critics warning that democracy and the system of checks and balances could be at risk.
Across the Atlantic, early voices from the United States echoed concerns about the pace and consequences of reform. The U.S. ambassador to Israel urged leaders to slow down and bring parties together to find a compromise. The United Nations Security Council also weighed in, condemning Israel’s plan to expand settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. This marked the first time in years that the council took a formal action related to Israel’s policy in the occupied territories, signaling international attention to the unfolding events in Jerusalem and beyond.