Israel’s parliament has passed a controversial bill in a bid to overhaul the judiciary, fulfilling Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s long-standing promise to curb the powers of the Supreme Court. The bill, which restricts the court’s ability to void certain government decisions deemed “unreasonable,” was ratified with a 64-to-0 vote.
The parliamentary session witnessed opposition lawmakers leaving in protest, expressing their discontent with the move.
Critics of the bill, including legal experts and opposition politicians, argue that it poses a threat to the independence of the judiciary and undermines Israeli democracy.
They believe that such limitations on the Supreme Court’s powers could result in potential biases and allow the government to operate without necessary checks and balances.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has vigorously defended the bill, claiming it is essential to safeguard the rights of the democratically elected government from judicial interference. He has accused the Israeli Supreme Court of displaying a bias against his right-wing government in its decisions.
This bill marks another episode in the ongoing conflict between Netanyahu and the Israeli Supreme Court. In the past, the court has invalidated several government policies backed by Netanyahu, further fueling the tension between the two parties.
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