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Jerusalem
CNN
—
On Monday, tens of thousands of flag-waving Israelis gathered in the country’s parliament amid warnings to thwart Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plans. undermine the judiciary There is a danger that the country will fall into “social collapse”.
Protesters held up signs with messages such as “No democracy without equality” and “Destroy the country to avoid justice.” corruption trial He is behind his government’s planned judicial reforms.
LGBTQ rainbow flag and some Palestinian flag Scattered among many Israeli flags in the crowd.
Television pictures show a dystopian book “Handmaid’s Tale”, wearing a long red dress with a white head covering.
Despite protests and an impassioned plea from President Isaac Herzog on Sunday night not to start the legislative process, the government began submitting reform bills to the parliamentary Knesset on Monday as scheduled. Herzog warned that Israel was “on the brink of constitutional and social collapse” and was likely facing “fierce clashes”.
A chaotic scene unfolded at a meeting of the Knesset’s Constitutional, Legal and Judicial Committee on the bill before protests began as opposition members of parliament chanted “shame”.
At one point, some of them jumped over a table and yelled at members of the Coalition before being taken away by security.
The bill has passed a committee vote and will likely face its first reading across the Knesset on Wednesday.
netanyahu coalition It calls for the most radical overhaul of Israel’s legal system since its inception.
The most significant change would allow a simple majority of the Knesset to overturn a Supreme Court decision.
The reform also seeks to change the way judges are selected and eliminate independent legal advisers to government ministries whose opinions are binding.
US President Joe Biden, who rarely speaks out on Israeli internal politics, called for consensus in a statement to the New York Times on Sunday. And balance, an independent judiciary. Building consensus for fundamental change is critical to enabling people to embrace and sustain change. ”
Meanwhile, Israeli President Herzog called for a halt to the legislative process in a rare prime-time speech on Sunday night, calling for the two sides to work together on consensus-based reforms.
Recognizing that both sides should be heard, Chancellor Herzog laid out a five-point plan for reform, including changing the way judges are selected and strengthening elements of the country’s Basic Law. Israel does not have a written constitution.
The US applauded Herzog’s speech, but Israeli Justice Minister Yariv Levin said that while there were “positive elements in his proposal”, there were also elements that “perpetuate the existing extraordinary situation”. .
But Mr Levin said legislative action should not be stopped for such talks, saying, “There will be ample time to discuss and reach understanding before the second and third readings as we move forward with the legislation.” ” he said.
In a video message, Prime Minister Netanyahu accused opposition leaders of “dragging the country into anarchy” and urged them to “show responsibility and leadership.”
“I call on leaders of the opposition: stop. Stop deliberately leading the country into anarchy. Pick yourself up and show responsibility and leadership,” Netanyahu said. “Most Israeli citizens don’t want anarchy. They want substantive debate and, ultimately, unity.”
Opposition leaders, including former Prime Minister Yair Lapid and former Defense Minister Benny Gantz, addressed the crowd ahead of the crowd.
Yohanan Plezner, head of the Israel Democracy Institute, said the bill, if passed, could result in a “fundamental change in the character of Israel”, with significant social consequences in the future. said there is.
He said that if the Supreme Court decides to void the new law, a stalemate could occur, it could be voided by Congress and the government, and the move would be deemed illegal by the Supreme Court. He said it could be possible.
“And there will be a constitutional deadlock with no agreed mechanism for making decisions,” he told CNN, adding that such a scenario is currently unlikely. I think is a looming threat, but it has not yet been elucidated.”
Protests are likely to intensify as the bill moves through the Knesset, he said.
An Israeli bill must be read three times in the Knesset before it becomes law.
Additional reporting by Amir Tal, Jerusalem and Nadine Ebrahim, Abu Dhabi.
