![]() Critics say removing it would allow the government to pass arbitrary decisions, make improper appointments or firings and open the door to corruption. Proponents say the current “reasonability” standard gives judges excessive powers over decision-making by elected officials. In Monday’s vote, legislators are to vote on an overhaul measure that would prevent judges from striking down government decisions on the basis that they are “unreasonable.” But it wasn’t clear whether those would bear fruit. Israeli media said last-ditch efforts were underway to find a solution out of the impasse. Two upcoming overseas trips, to Cyprus and Turkey, were being rescheduled, his office said. His weekly Cabinet meeting scheduled for Sunday morning was postponed. “I call on Knesset members to approve the bill.”ĭespite the attempts to project business as usual, Netanyahu’s schedule was disrupted. “This small clause is meant to restore democracy to the state of Israel,” Rothman said. In a fiery speech launching the session, Simcha Rothman, a main driver of the overhaul, denounced the courts, saying they damaged Israel’s democratic ideals by arbitrarily striking down government decisions. Many of the protesters in Jerusalem had camped out in a nearby park, after completing a four-day march into the city from Tel Aviv on Saturday.Īfter seven months of mass protests against the plan, tensions were surging as lawmakers began a marathon debate over the first major piece of the overhaul ahead of Monday’s vote Netanyahu’s supporters thronged central Tel Aviv - normally the setting for anti-government protests - while his opponents marched on Israel’s Knesset, or parliament. Herzog planned meetings later Sunday with Israel’s opposition leader, Yair Lapid, and Benny Gantz, head of National Unity, another opposition party.Īs they spoke, tens of thousands of people were gathering for mass rallies for and against the plan. “This is a time of emergency,” Herzog said. Herzog, who returned Sunday from a trip to the White House, immediately rushed to Netanyahu’s hospital room. President Joe Biden has called on Netanyahu to freeze the plan, and Israel’s ceremonial president, Isaac Herzog, has attempted to broker a compromise between the prime minister and his opponents. The plan has triggered seven months of mass protests, drawn harsh criticism from business and medical leaders, and a fast-rising number of military reservists in key units have said they will stop reporting for duty if the plan passes, raising concern that Israel’s security could be threatened. Their opponents, coming largely from Israel’s professional middle class, say the plan will destroy the country’s fragile system of checks and balances and push Israel toward authoritarian rule. Netanyahu and his far-right allies, a collection of ultranationalist and ultra-Orthodox parties, say the changes are needed to curb the powers of unelected judges. The overhaul calls for sweeping changes aimed at curbing the powers of the judiciary, from limiting the Supreme Court’s ability to challenge parliamentary decisions to changing the way judges are selected. “I want you to know that tomorrow morning I’m joining my colleagues at the Knesset,” he said. ![]() Wearing a white dress shirt and dark blazer, Netanyahu said he was pursuing a compromise with his opponents while also preparing for a vote on Monday that would enshrine a key piece of the legislation into law. In a short video statement from the hospital, Netanyahu, 73, said he felt fine and thanked his doctors for his treatment and the public for wishing him well. But by Sunday evening, Netanyahu remained in Sheba Hospital near Tel Aviv. Netanyahu’s doctors said Sunday the procedure had gone smoothly. Tensions over the legal plan spiked again late Sunday, as protesters waving Israeli flags blocked roads in Jerusalem, with police using water cannon to disperse them. Monday’s vote in parliament is expected to approve the first major piece of legislation in the contentious plan. Netanyahu’s sudden hospitalization for the implant of a pacemaker added another dizzying twist to an already dramatic series of events that have bitterly divided his country and are certain to shape Israel’s future. ![]()
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