Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will postpone the process of talks on the controversial judicial reform scheduled for next month, the far-right party and member of the Jewish Power coalition announced in a statement Monday.
The communiqué states that the law would thus be passed to the next session of the Israeli parliament, in order to “success the reform through dialogue”.
The Israeli parliament will be shut down next week for Passover.
On Sunday evening, Netanyahu fired the defense minister after Yoav Gallant publicly called for an end to judicial reform in what was the government’s first critical voice, the most right-wing in Israel’s history, with regarding the proposed changes.
The Prime Minister’s decision brought more than 600,000 people to the streets in massive and impromptu protests in several Israeli cities. Universities across the country are closed “until further notice”.
The growing opposition to Netanyahu’s plan came hours after tens of thousands of people across the country took to the streets in a spontaneous expression of anger over the prime minister’s decision to fire the defense minister.
Shouting slogans such as “the country is on fire”, protesters set fires on Tel Aviv’s main road, leading to the closure of the road, the same happened in other Israeli cities.
On the other hand, thousands of protesters are protesting at the Israeli parliament (Knesset) to keep up the pressure.
Judicial reforms sparked one of Israel’s most serious internal crises by uniting the opposition, business leaders, court officials and even the military.
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog this Monday asked Netanyahu to “act with responsibility and courage” and “immediately” end the legislative process of the controversial judicial reform that divides the country.
The centerpiece of the review is a law that will give the ruling coalition the final say on all judicial appointments. Other laws may allow parliament to override Supreme Court (STJ) decisions and limit judicial review of laws.
Netanyahu and allies said the plan would restore balance between the judiciary and executive and curb what they see as an interventionist court with liberal sympathies.
But critics warned that the laws would abolish Israel’s system of checks and balances and concentrate power in the hands of the ruling coalition, adding that Netanyahu, who will be tried on corruption charges, had a conflict of interest.
Source: DN
