The Israeli parliament approves a key part of Netanyahu’s judicial reform plan

JERUSALEM – Israel saw an uproar on Monday after the Israeli parliament gave Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s sweeping plans to reform the justice system a boost by passing a law weakening the powers of the courts.

Ignoring massive street protests and warnings from the White House and other international allies, Israeli lawmakers allied with Netanyahu pushed a bill that removes the Supreme Court’s power to declare government decisions unreasonable.

The vote came before opposition politicians walked out chanting “shame” and “a government of destruction”, leaving behind the ruling coalition of far-right and religious parties that passed controversial Bill 64 with nothing.

Later, a crowd of protesters outside The Knesset, the Israeli parliamentOfficials said that police attempted to cross a police cordon near the building before being pushed back.

Netanyahu, who attended the vote hours after he was released from hospital after an emergency heart procedure, his allies say the change is needed to prevent unelected judges from invalidating Democratic leaders.

The Israeli leader is expected to address the nation later on Monday.

Before the vote, President Isaac Herzog tried to find a compromise between the government, the opposition parties, and called confrontation Between the two sides is a “national emergency”.

Thousands of demonstrators outside the Knesset believe the government’s proposed judicial reform represents a national crisis and say crucial control over political power will now be lost, harming the Jewish state’s democracy and strengthening Netanyahu’s authority.

Protesters beat drums, blew trumpets and waved Israeli flags as they blocked the road leading to the Knesset. Businesses closed in protest. The police used water cannons on the protesters.

Police said earlier that at least 12 protesters were arrested near the Knesset, and that one of them had bitten a police officer.

Protesters say Netanyahu faces a choice between democracy and authoritarianism.

“After an unprecedented wave of protests, clear warnings from the security establishment, industry leaders, the high-tech sector, labor unions and now directly from the White House, today Netanyahu will decide between the will of the people and the will of the extremists in his government,” Shkma Pressler, leader of the protest movement, said in a statement before the final vote.

Many reservists and retired veterans are involved in direct action, a sign of how deeply the sense of reform runs deep in Israeli society.

We will not continue to risk our lives serving in the air force of a non-democratic country. “It’s that simple,” Jay Boran, a former Air Force pilot who is now a protest movement leader, said before the vote.

“You’re either for this kind of legislation or you’re fighting against it. And that’s something that has never happened in the 75 years of Israel’s existence. And, frankly, that’s scary.

So many reservists are taking part in the protests that it has become a national security problem, according to a senior military commander.

“These are serious cracks,” army chief Lieutenant-General Herzi Halevy wrote in a letter to IDF soldiers on Sunday aimed at addressing tensions. “If we are not a strong and cohesive army, if the best in the IDF is not served, we will no longer be able to survive as a state in the region.”

The plan, which is backed by Israel’s ruling coalition of far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties, has been the source of violent protests for months.

The White House took the highly unusual step of influencing Israel’s domestic political developments after the vote.

“As a lifelong friend of Israel, President Biden has publicly and privately expressed his views that major changes in democracy that must be sustained must have as broad a consensus as possible,” said the statement from White House Press Secretary Karen Jean-Pierre. “Unfortunately, the vote took place today with a small majority.”

Earlier, in a statement to the Axios news site on Sunday, President Joe Biden urged Netanyahu to reach a peaceful consensus.

“Given the array of threats and challenges facing Israel right now, it doesn’t make sense for Israeli leaders to rush this – the focus should be on bringing people together and finding consensus,” he said.

The political unrest comes amid growing concerns about Netanyahu’s health. The 73-year-old was fitted with a pacemaker over the weekend, his second hospital stay in two weeks.

The prime minister has recorded a short video saying he is fine, and thanking doctors and the public for their support. He attended the Knesset voting session in person.

The opposition movement does not end with this vote. President of the Israeli National Trade Union, Histradot, Arnon Bar-David, He said After Monday’s vote he would gather his members and if necessary call for a “complete lockdown”.

Paul Goldman and Raf Sanchez report in Jerusalem, and Patrick Smith in London.