Knesset passes first judicial reform weakening High Court’s power

Israel’s parliament the Knesset passed a law on Monday which will dramatically weaken the High Court of Justice’s power. 

The “reasonableness law”, which will will bar the High Court from striking down government decisions and appointments of ministers deemed “unreasonable,” passed with 64 votes for and 0 against, as the entire opposition boycotted the vote.

Opposition lawmakers were chanting “shame, shame” at the government during the Knesset vote.

The law, which is the part of the government’s judicial reforms, was last used by the court to overrule Prime Minister Netanyahu’s decision to appoint Shas party leader Arieh Dery as health and interior minister in January, arguing it was “unreasonable in the extreme” due to Dery’s criminal past.

Senior Yesh Atid lawmaker, Ram Ben-Barak, told Jewish News that the law passed in Knesset on Monday was was passed by “extremists” and will “damage” Israel’s democracy.

Yesh Atid party leader Yair Lapid also lashed out at Prime Minister Netanyahu, saying he has “become a puppet on the strings of extremists and messianists.This is a sad day, a day of our home’s destruction, of needless hatred, and look at the coalition celebrating.”

Justice Minister Yariv Levin hailed the passing of the law, saying the government has “taken the first step in a historic process to correct the judicial system.”

The government argues that the law is needed to restore checks and balances in a judicial system where the High Court has far-reaching powers.

Critics of the law, which include High Court President Esther Hayut and Attorney General Gali Baharav Miara, argue the removal of judicial oversight over government decisions is an attack on Israel’s democracy, which doesn’t have a constitution.

Senior Yesh Atid lawmaker, Ram Ben-Barak, told Jewish News that the law passed in Knesset on Monday was was passed by “extremists” and will “damage” Israel’s democracy.

Chaos erupted outside Knesset on Monday morning ahead of the vote, with hundreds of demonstrators physically blocking the entrance to parliament.

Police used water cannons and force to remove demonstrators. 19 people were arrested by police.

Attempts to reach a compromise on the law failed on Monday after President Isaac Herzog conducted marathon talks with government and opposition representatives.

Israeli media reported that Defence Minister Yoav Gallant attempted to halt the vote to reach a compromise with the opposition until the last minute, but that his proportion was dismissed by Justice Minister Yariv Levin and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.