Israel’s Controversial Judicial Reforms Explained

While Netanyahu's re-election had already caused controversy, his new judicial reform bill might be his most contentious move yet, sparking widespread protests in Israel. So in this video, we take a look at the bill, and whether he can get away with it.

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[erezzimmerman]

A significant part that was left out is that even if the laws pass, the supreme court will likely overrule them. This means we're heading for the first Israeli constitutional crisis, an outstanding achievement for a country without a constitution!

[davidblair]

“The answer to the country’s problems is to give me and my friends the authority to do whatever we want!”
—said every dictator ever

[asalways]

This is why it’s important to have a written constitution.

[shoja]

A perfect example how corrupt politicians highest priority is to stay in power no matter what the negative consequences for the country & nation would be.

[snoopcelev]

Israeli here. This is *by far* the best summary in english I've seen. Very well put together, well done!

[docilecatfish]

Isn’t this behavior natural when you elect an official who was already under investigation for corruption?

[BardovBacchus]

"The will of the people" is sometimes cruel and unjust. This is why the Rule of LAW is important, because people will try to assert Rule by Man, and call it the "will of the people"

[mokied]

Thanks for the coverage. Much appreciated from Israel. Would you like to interview opposition members?

[robertfreitag]

" . . . were just too busy to establish an independent judiciary . . . "

Priceless.

[אוריילינסקי]

As an Israeli citizen, I can honeslty say that to my opinion and many other Israelis Netanyahu is the greatest threat to the future of Israel, in any realms possible.

[ErenYega]

Remember when Israel argued for support because they were a democracy in a region of authoritarian governments?

[fateenshareef]

Protection the independence of judiciary becomes far more important in parliamentary forms of democracy, because of the legislative- executive coalition. Excecutive and legislative power clashes are often the thing that protects minorities and marginalised groups from the legislative power of the majority. A codified constitution with clear demarcations between the three branches seems to be the need of the hour for Israel. But obviously, with the current fractured political landscape, any reform or referendum is akin to opening a pandora's box. And that's all aside from the fact that he's literally breaking apart the structure of the country to keep himself and his cronies out of jail. As long as they have majority, they won't face justice and prosecution, and without justice they'll continue to win elections and continue to enact laws that will keep them in power.

[random-J]

Most countries Don't have an independent judiciary they are mostly semi independent, so it's strange that people from Europe without fully a independent judiciary system are crying about what's going on in Israel.

[rumz]

“The only democracy in the Middle East” what a joke

[nitzan]

you said the justices here are much more secular than the average Israeli, which is blatantly not true, speaking as an Israeli, most people one meets on a day-to-day basis here are usually secular folk just like most people you meet anywhere in the western world. They are even not that much more liberal than most of us, after all, there exist other parties than the ones in the coalition.

[liorajacob]

Excellent summary. It is important to understand that although the ruling parties received a parliamentary majority, they did NOT garner a popular majority (similar to Bush/Gore in 2000). Add to that polls which show half of Likud voters do not support the speed and scale of the proposed reforms, and one can see how the claim that the government is simply following "the will of the people" is patently false.

Each of the ruling parties has their own ulterior motives for wanting the reforms to pass, which would ultimately hand them unlimited power free of any judicial constraints, to legislate away any rights they wish, and to 'tweak' future timing of elections and voter eligibility to ensure they stay in power indefinitely.

[idoh]

Israeli here, must say that the majority of Israelis voted this government to establish clear and functioning checks and balances between the keneset and the Supreme Court, but the reform that is on the table is considered radical by alot of Israelis, even some likud voters. Both coalition and opposition act recklessly, and I hope some accepted compromise will be achieved.

[guss]

In point 2, you probably mean the cancellation of the "reasonability" clause. This will apply not only to national security: as discussed in the Knesset in the last few days, this will allow the government free reign in curtailing liberalism itself: remove basic protections such as equal protection, the right to elect and be elected, open public legislative discourse, and even prevent judicial review of obviously corrupt decisions such as nepotism.

[catcat]

How convenient for a person who goes to the courts every week to hear the pending cases against him, that the court will do what his coalition decides, simply a wonderful solution

[Ynhockey]

According to the largest poll done on the subject in Israel, a whopping 84% (!) support a judicial reform, but only 41% support a reform similar to what is being proposed (vs. 44% opposed), and just 22% support THE reform being proposed. The video did a decent job outlining why there is such great support for some reform – the supreme court has taken to itself unlimited powers, and is increasingly abusing them. If there is a major problem with Israel's democracy, this is it. On the other hand, the reform exactly as it's being put forward is very extreme in the other direction. That's the point though – if you are familiar with Israeli politics, you know that every partisan law proposal is always very extreme, in order to later soften it as a "compromise". What's different now though is that the opposition has reached a fever pitch, and the consequences are already being felt, even if the reform doesn't pass, or is softened. That's why the president is trying to find a compromise for those 84%.