Israel's judicial reform: strengthening democracy

A short explanation on how the judicial reforms in progress will address the anomalies of the Israeli system and bring Israel closer to the rest of the Western democracies

[richardkaplan]

Cute, except there is no distinction between the executive and legislative branches, the Prime Minister is a member of parliament, and there is no de facto distinction as in the US.

[אביעדברון]

Why don't you tell the reformers that there will be no checks and balances here and that the government will have unlimited power? There is no liberal democracy with such a system of checks and balances and I do not know in the political science literature that such a country would be considered democratic

[kobic]

How? By giving politicians the power to nominee the judges?! To hold them by the throat? Israel’s checks and balances requires separation of the Knesset and the government. That is what we need

[telavivi]

The goal of the new Kohelet sponsored initiative is NOT to "restore checks and balances". On the contrary, it will create a single arm of government aka the coalition that controls the executive, the legislator and if the reform will subjugate the judiciary to its will.

The reform was NOT a campaign promise. In fact it was hardly mentioned at all.

The rest of the video misrepresents the reality of law in Israel and a better fact-checker than myself can spend the time debunking the argument.

[heavyferrum]

You have a mistake in the title:
*strengthening dictatorship

[amitkenan]

Let me ask you this: suppose the Israeli government decides to expropriate your house for the construction of a road, who will protect your rights?

[DanielSRosehill]

"[The proposals] will bring Israel a few steps closer to Western democracies" - - hard to understand how anybody could claim this in good faith. The reforms will obliterate the last and only check and balance in Israel's system of governance and negate one of the ONLY similarities between government in Israel and that in the West!

[colivri]

Thank you for the video in English. It actually made me think. I wonder why can't the USA just democratically decide that it is a white's only, Christian only country that allows for slavery, where only males can vote and make same-sex relationships a crime if that's what the majority wants. Why not? Wouldn't that be a democracy?

If the majority in NK wants to live like they live right now in North Korea. Isn't that a democracy? What is a democracy if not the will of the people?

Same with... Germany, Spain, Yemen.... what could go wrong? That's what a Democracy is supposed to be, the will of the majority. Or not?

Think and tell me.

[eyalinbar]

You gotta understans who is making thesr videos. This is forum kohelet, a concervative, right wing group. Their interests are kind of aligned here. Oh, and by the way, they write the books which explain the systems of Israel.

[drewlex]

We agree judicial reform in Israel is required. But what the government now proposes (including the override clause) goes too far in limiting Israel's judicial independence, a cornerstone of Israel's democracy. If the override clause is approved (giving the parliament the right to overrule decisions of the court), then you can really start make videos stating that the checks and balances in Israel's government is nothing like the US (and very much like Turkey or Pakistan). Such a misleading video is an embarrassment to the Kohelet Forum. I expected something closer to the truth. The proposed changes, if approved, will lead Israel further way from the democracies in most Western democracies, not closer. Take out the override clause.

[TNothingFree]

Latest polls show that the support for the reform has got down, now most of the citizens DO NOT support it.

1:26 - It did NOT harm the contract, all they have done is disagree with a law that the parliament wanted to make that would say : "the next parliament cannot change this law " which the jurisdiction mentioned that the parliament "DO NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO SO".
Great lie.

1:35 "Haredi army" - YES because you can't just make a law that everyone will be happy, the law was discriminatory and did not stand with the morals of the Israeli citizens.

[odedbernstein]

Hi there propaganda! Didn't see you there .

[susanlbecker]

There are so many inaccuracies and misstatements in this video it is dangerous.

[danielfromca]

The Super hero in the clip, the "legendary " Supreme court judge Barak said to the effect (it's a near quote): the words of the law are not castles to be overcome with a dictionary. In plain language, he meant - don't bother me what the law actually says, I'll decide what it "intends" to say or should be saying, even in contravention of the simple words of the law.

[Davey-jones]

This video is spot on in explaining the reform, love it!

[eilatnature]

Israel needs a constitution. Until then it can't be vulnerable to the whims of extremists who sometimes lead the government. In Israel there is only one house and no administrative branch. Our court is far from perfect but is the best thing we have to moderate government in Israel.

[simonkao]

Persist in and turn Israel more balance democratic country.

[soundflowers]

Full of miss information, fake fake fake, be ware

[akapushkin]

Not a single word of truth, what a lovely video.
Shame on you! You're destroying Israel with your lies. Shame!

[yuvalharel]

Guys this is a bunch of BS don't buy this