By: Emma Simon
After several months of protests, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to postpone the controversial judicial reforms he has been pushing for. The proposed changes include limits on the Supreme Court's power to make rulings on certain laws and the ability for parliament to overrule the court's decisions, which is the most significant alterations to the court's functionality since it was established in 1948. These reforms would give the Knesset, and thus the parties in power, more control over the judiciary.
The judicial reforms stem from an argument made by the Netanyahu Administration, stating that the judicial branch has increasingly granted itself more authority over the years. The Administration also contends that the Supreme Court is not representative of the diversity of Israeli society. The bills also come at a time when the Prime Minister himself is facing a corruption trial with potential charges of fraud, bribery, and breach of trust; though he denies any wrongdoing. The bill is primarily seen by opposition leaders as a way to protect Netanyahu from being declared unfit for office as a result of the trial.
The Defense Minister Yoav Gallant was recently fired for his opposition to the proposed overhaul, which sparked massive protests across the country. Due to the mounting pressure, including a general strike led by Israel's largest labor union, Netanyahu has announced that he will delay the controversial bill's passage until after the Passover holiday in April. While claiming to be "listening to the people," he maintains that the reforms are necessary. The delay was welcomed by the White House, which called for compromise. The Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C., has reopened after being closed due to staff strikes under instructions from Histadrut, which is the General Organization of Workers in Israel
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