Israel protests erupt in Tel Aviv as Netanyahu’s crisis deepens

Israel’s proposed judicial overhaul has raised concerns over the country’s democratic future. The reforms would see the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, and the parties in power gain control over the judiciary. The far-reaching changes could alter how judges are selected and what laws the Supreme Court can rule on. The government would also have the power to overturn Supreme Court decisions. It would be the most significant shift in Israel’s judiciary since the founding of the country in 1948.

If the proposed reforms are implemented, it could limit both Israelis and Palestinians from seeking the court’s defense of their rights. In particular, Palestinian citizens of Israel and those who hold residency cards would be directly affected. Weakening the judicial branch could reduce the court’s ability to provide defense for human rights defenders and activists in the country.

Critics of the proposed changes worry that increased political control over the judiciary would curb the rights of minorities, especially Palestinians living in Israel. Last year, the Supreme Court stopped the evictions of Palestinian families in East Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood. Jewish groups have claimed ownership of the land that the families have lived on for decades. Palestinian activists have voiced their concerns that the court’s involvement in Israel’s occupation of the West Bank further entrenches Israeli settlements there.

The high court has also faced criticism from Israel’s far-right and settlers, who accuse it of being biased against settlers. They condemn the court’s involvement in approving the eviction of settlers from Gaza and the Northern West Bank in 2005. It remains to be seen whether international pressure can prevent the government from weakening Israel’s judiciary. Civil society groups and human rights defenders inside Israel are expected to fight against the proposed reforms.



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