What's Causing Protests in Israel? An Explanation of Netanyahu's Controversial Reforms.

 

Months of Demonstrations Erupt as Benjamin Netanyahu Proposes Overhaul of Judicial System.

For seven consecutive months, tens of thousands of people have been marching on the streets of Israel in what has become the most prolonged and fervent demonstrations the country has ever witnessed.

These protesters are part of a grassroots movement that emerged in response to a controversial judicial overhaul led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

On Monday, the first element of that legislative package was approved by Israel's parliament. The measure aims to prevent judges from invalidating government decisions on the grounds of being "unreasonable."

Let's delve into what these judicial reforms entail and why they have sparked such intense protests:

What will the reforms do?

The proposals consist of a bill that would enable a simple majority in parliament to overturn Supreme Court decisions. Additionally, another bill aims to grant parliament the ultimate authority in selecting judges.

Supporters of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, including his ultranationalist and ultra-Orthodox religious allies, argue that these measures are intended to reestablish power with elected officials and limit the influence of unelected judges.

However, protesters, representing a diverse cross-section of Israeli society, are concerned that these reforms could lead Israel towards autocracy. They believe it is a power consolidation move driven by various personal and political motives of Netanyahu, who is currently facing corruption charges (he denies all allegations), and his allies.

Those in favor of the reforms argue that the existing "reasonability" standard grants judges excessive power over decisions made by elected officials. On the other hand, critics argue that removing this standard, which is rarely invoked, could lead to arbitrary government decisions, improper appointments or dismissals, and potentially open the door to corruption.

Protesters claim that Mr. Netanyahu and his allies are seeking to alter the law to appoint their supporters to government positions, with a specific focus on dismissing the independent attorney general, as stated by Amir Fuchs, a senior researcher at the Israel Democracy Institute, a Jerusalem-based think tank. These measures are perceived to make it more challenging to oversee the arbitrary decisions made by elected officials, according to Yohanan Plesner, the institute's president. He views this as one part of a broader government agenda to weaken checks and balances.

Mr. Netanyahu has refuted the accusations that the plan would undermine Israel's democratic foundations, dismissing them as absurd. He stated, "This is an attempt to mislead you over something that has no basis in reality."

Why have the protests been so extensive?

The large-scale protests were triggered by Mr. Netanyahu's government coming into power in December, and almost immediately announcing its intentions to weaken Israel's Supreme Court. This move caused a division within the country.

In response, demonstrations emerged in major cities, and business leaders expressed opposition to the plan. However, what perhaps had the most significant impact was the stance taken by military reservists, including those in Israel's air force and other vital units, who threatened to refuse reporting for duty if the proposed measures were enacted.

Protests have escalated as the coalition's efforts to implement the judicial overhaul have progressed, leading to counter-demonstrations by pro-Netanyahu groups in support of the reforms.

In response to the vote on Monday, an ad placed by a group identifying as concerned hi-tech workers described it as "A Black Day for Israeli Democracy."

Protest leaders have claimed that an increasing number of military reservists will refuse to report for duty. However, opposition leader Yair Lapid has requested that they postpone this action for now. Additionally, the Israel Medical Association has ordered doctors to go on strike.

Why are protesters seeking to protect the judiciary?

The judiciary plays a significant role in checking executive power in Israel, as the country has minimal local governance and lacks a formal constitution. Most power is centralized in parliament, where Mr. Netanyahu's coalition holds a majority. The "basic laws," considered an informal constitution, can be altered by this majority at any time.

With the proposed overhaul, analysts believe that the Israeli parliament is seeking to further consolidate its power by weakening the judiciary. Critics argue that this move could grant near-total control to the government, which is led by a male-dominated coalition that has advocated for various contentious policies, including full annexation of the occupied West Bank, discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals and Palestinian citizens of Israel, and limiting women's rights.

Wasn't the plan put on pause?

Initially, protests earlier this year compelled Mr. Netanyahu to pause the overhaul in March and engage in talks with opposition legislators. However, the talks broke down last month, and in June, Mr. Netanyahu announced that the overhaul would proceed.

Protesters accuse Mr. Netanyahu of altering tactics but not his broader objectives, opting for a slower and more strategic approach to minimize opposition.

What happens now?

A civil society group has announced its intention to challenge the new law in the Supreme Court. The court could issue a "temporary writ" to prevent the law from taking effect until it can conduct a proper review.

While it is believed that the government would likely comply with any such court order, it is not guaranteed.