TEL AVIV — In a dramatic late-night session that has pushed the country to the brink of a constitutional crisis, the Israeli Knesset passed the first reading of a controversial judicial reform bill, signaling a major shift in the nation’s legal landscape. The vote, which took place in the early hours of Tuesday morning, passed with a 63-47 margin, setting the stage for a legislative process that critics argue will irreparably damage Israel’s democratic foundations.
The proposed reforms, championed by the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, aim to fundamentally alter the relationship between the judiciary and the political branch. If enacted, the legislation would grant the Knesset the authority to override Supreme Court rulings with a simple majority of 61 votes. Additionally, the plan seeks to change the composition of the committee responsible for selecting judges, effectively giving the ruling coalition near-total control over judicial appointments.
Supporters of the overhaul argue that the Supreme Court has become an overreaching body that frequently strikes down laws passed by democratically elected representatives. Justice Minister Yariv Levin, the primary architect of the plan, stated following the vote that the move was a necessary correction to restore the balance of power. “We are returning power to the people,” Levin said, asserting that the reform would increase public trust in the legal system by making it more representative of the voter base.
However, the opposition and a broad coalition of civil society groups view the legislation as a dangerous encroachment on the rule of law. Protesters gathered in the tens of thousands outside the Knesset in Jerusalem and near the government compound in Tel Aviv throughout the night, chanting slogans of defiance and waving Israeli flags. Many protesters see the move as a “judicial coup” that would remove the primary check on government power in a country that lacks a formal constitution.
“This is a dark day for Israeli democracy,” opposition leader Yair Lapid said shortly after the vote. “They are tearing down the walls that protect our individual rights. They are not fixing the system; they are destroying the gatekeeper.”
The legislative push comes amidst an increasingly volatile climate in Israel, marked by weeks of nationwide protests, warnings from the country’s top financial institutions regarding economic instability, and rare public criticism from judicial officials. Legal experts have warned that the changes could expose Israeli soldiers to international war crimes investigations by stripping away the credibility of the local judiciary.
As the bill heads to the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee for further preparation before its second and third readings, tensions show no sign of subsiding. The coalition government remains determined to pass the reforms before the upcoming Passover recess, while protest organizers have vowed to escalate their campaign of civil disobedience. International observers, including key allies in Washington, are closely monitoring the situation, as the internal divide threatens to leave the country deeply fractured.
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