Israel's Knesset passes controversial judiciary bill despite protests and walk out by Opposition

After a lot of debates and protests, Israel’s Knesset has formally passed the highly controversial bill that changes the makeup of the country’s judicial selection committee. The bill garnered backlash since it increases the role played by politicians in selecting judges, including who will be sitting in the Supreme Court. Several opposition lawmakers and protesters argued that the bill threatened the democratic power of the Jewish nation.

According to The Times of Israel, the bill was passed following a marathon of overnight debate inside the parliament with thousands of protesters staging demonstrations outside the Knesset. The bill was passed with 67 to 1 votes in favour, while the opposition leaders joined the protesters and boycotted the final vote.

“The government of Israel has just approved a law with one goal — to ensure that judges become subject to the will of politicians,” opposition leaders said in a joint statement, vowing to repeal it if they win the next election.

What is the bill about?

The legislation, which was pushed by the ruling coalition of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, reduces the influence of high-court judges and the leader of the bar on the selection committee that appoints justices even to the apex court.

Anti-government demonstrations have also resumed in recent weeks because the Netanyahu government decided to return to war against Hamas in Gaza, with many claiming that the government has abandoned the remaining hostages in Gaza. In his Wednesday address to the Knesset, Netanyahu rejected the claims that he increased the executive power.

“It’s not democracy that’s in danger, it’s the rule of the bureaucrats,” he said. “Democracy is first and foremost the rule of the people. The tyranny of the small minority will not overcome the will of the great majority.”

In some democracies like the United States, elections play a critical role in shaping the judiciary, with the country’s president appointing Supreme Court justices and the Senate rejecting or accepting them. However, in Israel, just like India and European nations, the judiciary has been more cordoned off from politics, with judges and legal associations playing a major role in selecting those who sit on the bench.

While Netanyahu’s populist right dominated the political landscape, Israel’s judiciary has remained more liberal and has stopped laws it says violate human rights, especially of minorities. The Netanyahu government has been pushing for a judicial overhaul since 2022 before Hamas conducted a surprise attack in Southern Israel. However, the war hindered the effort.