Benjamin Netanyahu was hospitalized ahead of a key vote on judicial reform

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu underwent surgery to implant a pacemaker on Sunday, July 23. The move comes ahead of a vote in parliament on a controversial court reform bill that has been the cause of massive protests for months.

Sheba Hospital has confirmed that the Prime Minister’s condition is stable “Good”. A spokesman for the establishment told AFP he was still in hospital. “tomorrow morning [lundi]I will join my friends in Parliament.”the man said in a video posted on Twitter on Sunday. “As you can see, I’m fine”, Benjamin Netanyahu was wearing a jacket and white shirt with an unbuttoned collar, according to a video released by his office. “We continue our efforts to complete the reform (…) and our efforts to do so in agreement (with the opposition)”He continued.

His government’s proposed judicial reform, in which the far-right holds key positions, has divided the nation and sparked one of the biggest protests in Israel’s history since its introduction in January. Opponents see the plan as a threat to Israeli democracy.

The danger of anti-liberal drift

“We want to continue to live in a Jewish and democratic country”Opposition leader Yair Lapid said at the start of the plenary debate. “We will not abandon our children’s future”He added that “Stop the Law” In this reform. A final vote will be held on the clause “fairness” Government decisions, which allows judges to overturn government decisions.

Protests have intensified in recent days ahead of Knesset debates that began Sunday. Tens of thousands of Israeli demonstrators rallied near parliament in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem on Saturday to hammer out their opposition to the controversial clause. Again on Sunday, tens of thousands of people took to the streets in Jerusalem against the reform plan, while demonstrators gathered in Tel Aviv in support of the government.

According to the government, the reform aims, among other things, to realign powers, which have been politicized in favor of Parliament by reducing the privileges of the Supreme Court. But its opponents believe it could pave the way for anti-liberal or authoritarian drift.