Israel Judicial Reform: Why Is There A Crisis?

 

Israel is in the grip of one of the most serious domestic crises in its history, with uproar over the government's plans to change the way the judicial system works. Here is a brief guide to what is going on.

What is happening in Israel?

Since the start of the year, huge weekly protests have been held by people opposed to the government's reform plans. The scale of the protests has escalated, with hundreds of thousands of people packing the streets in Tel Aviv - Israel's commercial capital - and other towns and cities across the country.

Protesters have called for the reforms to be scrapped and for the Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to resign. His political rivals have spearheaded the protests, though the fierce opposition to the reforms has cut across political lines.

Most significantly, a growing number of military reservists - the backbone of Israel's armed forces - have protested by refusing to report for duty, triggering warnings that the crisis even threatens Israel's security.

The government argues that voters elected it on a promise of reforming the judiciary, which it considers a left-leaning institution in the hands of an unelected elite, and says attempts to stop it from making the judiciary more accountable are undemocratic.

What are people so angry about?

Mr Netanyahu's opponents say the reforms will severely undermine the country's democracy by weakening the judicial system which historically has kept a check on the government's use of its power.

Underlying this is strong opposition to the kind of government currently in office - the most right-wing in Israel's history - and to Mr Netanyahu himself.

Critics say the reforms will shield Mr Netanyahu, who is currently on trial for alleged corruption - he denies the charges - and help the government pass laws without any brakes.

What are the legal reforms at the centre of the crisis?

They concern the power of the government versus the power of the courts to scrutinise and even overrule the government. The government - and others - say reform is overdue, though the plans go much further than many people would like.

Under the government's plans:

• The power of the Supreme Court to review or throw out laws would be weakened, with a simple majority of one in the Knesset (parliament) able to overrule court decisions.
• The government would have a decisive say over who becomes a judge, including in the Supreme Court, by increasing its representation on the committee which appoints them
• Ministers would not be required to obey the advice of their legal advisers - guided by the attorney general - which they currently have to by law

One reform has already been passed into law - removing the power of the attorney general to pronounce a sitting prime minister as unfit for office. There had been speculation that the attorney general was preparing to do this with Mr Netanyahu due to a conflict of interest between the reforms and his ongoing trial.

Will the government back down?

After weeks of defying protesters, Mr Netanyahu on Monday said he would postpone a key part of the legislation for at least month "to give time for broad agreement". The move was cautiously welcomed by the opposition, who said it had potential.

Both sides said they were willing to move forward in dialogue, with Mr Netanyahu making clear the overhaul would not be scrapped but passed "in one form or another".

But while the prime minister is facing pressure from the protesters, he is also dependent on far-right ministers in his own cabinet, without whose support his government could collapse. Those ministers have insisted the reforms must be passed and not watered down.

For now, though, time has been allowed to see what can be done.