These now-accepted proposals were first introduced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been dealing with corruption and sedition charges, that, if upheld, would mean he would be heavily fined and imprisoned for a long time, under normal circumstances.
Israel has been basically been split down the middle on the issue, causing continuous protests and demonstrations for many months, which have turned quite rowdy and violent at times. The WinePress has reported on this several times already as early as January of this year:
- Israel Sees Large-Scale Protests Breakout After Netanyahu Touts “Reform” Plans
- Israel On The Brink Of Civil War Over Netanyahu’s Policies To Erase Country’s System Of Checks And Balances
- Israeli President Herzog Says That Israel Is On The Verge Of Civil War, As Netanyahu Continues To Remove Judicial System
These protests have remained persistent up to now. In April, more of 100,000 Israelis took to the streets to protest the reforms. Netanyahu said he would drop a top provision in the reform package earlier this month. Nevertheless, protests have still remained fierce, such as blockading an airport, leading to many arrests.
President Isaac Herzog said in a statement today that “this is a time of emergency, an agreement must be reached.”
The Jerusalem Post provides more details into what this move entails:
Netanyahu and his allies want to fundamentally change Israel’s court system.
At the end of last year, Israeli voters returned Netanyahu to office — and he assembled a coalition with far-right partners that holds 64 of the 120 seats in the Knesset, Israel’s parliament. Days later, his justice minister unveiled a plan that, in its original form, would have rendered the Supreme Court largely powerless.
The initial plan would have given the coalition complete control over the selection of judges, and would have allowed the Knesset to overrule Supreme Court decisions with a bare majority. Another measure took aim at the “reasonableness” clause.
Netanyahu and his allies portrayed the legislative package as a curb on an increasingly activist Supreme Court that was out of step with the country’s right-wing majority. Its composition, they charged, was a vestige of Israel’s secular, Ashkenazi elite and did not reflect the country’s ethnic and Jewish religious diversity, including the country’s large number of Mizrahi Jews.
The court reform would give Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition total control of the government
But a growing number of critics — from centrist and left-wing Israelis to foreign leaders to American Jewish organizations — cautioned that the overhaul would endanger Israel’s status as a democratic state.
Because the governing coalition by definition commands a majority in parliament, they say, the court reform would effectively give Netanyahu and his partners complete control over all three branches of government.
The court has historically been a protector of the rights of minorities — from Arabs to LBGTQ Israelis to liberal Jewish movements — and critics of the plan worry that it would put those safeguards at risk. Those worries are exacerbated, they say, because the prime minister leading the effort to weaken the judiciary is currently on trial.
The “reasonableness” law supported by all 64 coalition members, versus the 56 opposition MKs who opposed the final vote. It is expected for this to pass completely within the next few days across party lines.
The Times of Israel wrote:
No sooner had the law passed than demonstrations intensified outside the Knesset. If the experience of 29 weeks of protests against the overhaul is any guide, those demonstrations will spread from now on. And the number of volunteer reservists choosing not to serve is likely to mount. Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and other IDF top brass have been briefing ministers with increasing frequency and concern about the likely impact.
Huge numbers of Israelis believe with good reason that this coalition, once the judges are sidelined, intends to legislate for an Israel no longer committed to the values of democracy, equality and tolerant Judaism set out in the 1948 Declaration of Independence. Huge numbers of Israelis feel themselves profoundly alienated from the Netanyahu government — and never more so than now.
These reforms have begun to strain the open relationship with the United States already. Interestingly enough, the White House gave their judgment of the situation.
Given the range of threats and challenges confronting Israel right now, it doesn’t make sense for Israeli leaders to rush this – the focus should be on pulling people together and finding consensus.
Biden said in a statement provided to CNN on Sunday.
When the bill passed this morning the White House said it was “unfortunate that the vote today took place with the slimmest possible majority.”
SEE: Former Israeli Prime Minister Lapid Says United States Is ‘No Longer Our Closest Ally’
The Jerusalem Post and Times of Israel are providing real-time updates to the chaos.
AUTHOR COMMENTARY
They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
Psalm 73:8
The Israeli government is extremely corrupt and rotten inside and out, as the nation as a whole, like the West, is immensely wicked as well. It’ll definitely be interesting to see where this leads to, because these protests are serious and have been going on for a while; and bearing in mind all that has happened these last several years, the Israelis have clearly had enough of it.
If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.
Ecclesiastes 5:8
[7] Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? [8] Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? [9] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? [10] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. (1 Corinthians 9:7-10).
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Things are getting revved up aren’t they
It would seem so.
Look how much worse things have become since the vaccination begun.
It was like salt in an open wound.
I was in Jerusalem in April. Things were tense then. Now it’s getting and worse and worse. I hope our brothers and sisters in Israel stay bold in their faith. Let’s pray for them.