Israel’s Supreme Court Scales Back Powers Reforms and Protests Persist
The Israeli Supreme Court has moved to overturn a law that limited its ability to review government decisions, a change tied to the ongoing judicial reform debate. This shift was reported by Reuters, citing the press service of the oversight authority.
In a development described by Reuters, Israel’s top court reversed a controversial piece of legislation that had narrowed some of the court’s powers and sparked street demonstrations across the country. The law, which had been approved last summer by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was aimed at recalibrating the balance between branches of government. The updated measure reduces, or potentially eliminates, the court’s tools to overturn actions taken by the government and ministers.
The court’s document noted that the repeal decision received the support of eight of the fifteen judges on the panel that reviewed the case, as reported by Reuters.
Protests over the reform lasted for more than nine months, with opponents arguing that the changes would diminish judicial independence and upset the traditional separation of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Critics warned that the reforms could shift power toward the government and undermine checks and balances. Reuters coverage highlights the broad public engagement and the political temperature surrounding the issue.
Former Israeli leaders and legal commentators have weighed in on the scandal surrounding the judicial reform, underscoring how the debate continues to shape public discourse and policy choices in the country. Reuters reports emphasize the persistent tension between reform advocates and opponents, and the impact on perceptions of rule of law in Israel.