Knesset Speaker hints coalition won’t honour Supreme Court ruling on judicial reform

The constitutional crisis unraveling in Israel over the government’s judicial reforms escalated on Wednesday after Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana said that the Supreme Court doesn’t have the power to strike down the newly-passed “reasonableness law.”

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court will hear a petition against the law, which bars the court from striking down government decisions.

“We are facing a new and dangerous juncture, which could plunge us into the abyss, with the High Court soon holding discussions on Basic Laws,” Ohana said.

“Israel is democratic, and in a democracy, the sovereign is the people. In a democratic state, the justice system respects the sovereign, the people and its elected officials, and this respect is mutual. There is no debate, and there cannot be one, over the question of whether the Knesset has authorised the court to nullify Basic Laws,” the Knesset Speaker added.

While Ohana called on the government and opposition to find reach a compromise on the remaining judicial reforms proposed by the Prime Minister Netanyahu’s coalition, should this fail it “doesn’t allow the court to make a decision instead of the elected officials.”

“This situation will lead to an unprecedented incident in a democratic country. Recognise the limits of your power (Supreme Court judges), not only those of other branches (of government). Recognise that in a democracy, no branch is all powerful,” he said.

Opponents of the government’s judicial reforms argue that as long as Israel doesn’t have a constitution with civil rights enshrined, the reforms will transform Israel into a dictatorship with an all powerful government.

National Unity party, led by Benny Ganz, called Ohana’s speech a recipe for “anarchy.”

Opposition Leader Yair Lapid also lashed out at Ohana’s “disgraceful” speech, saying his remarks don’t “represent the Knesset and he does not speak for the majority of lawmakers, including many members of the coalition who still believe in the rule of law and the need to obey the court.”

“Those who heard him today asked themselves where they (government) will stop? Why is it so important for them to divide and divide the people? Why is the Speaker of the Knesset trying to destroy the Knesset?” Lapid said.