Vidushi Vats
Israel’s Supreme Court has nullified a contentious judicial reform that led to nationwide protests last year against the Netanyahu government. The reform aimed to limit the Supreme Court’s authority to overturn laws it deemed unconstitutional. Critics argued that it would have significantly weakened the country’s democracy by undermining the judicial system.
The decision follows months of internal turmoil, beginning with the passage of the “reasonableness” bill in July 2023. This legislation stripped the Supreme Court and lower courts of the authority to annul government decisions deemed “extremely unreasonable.” The law sparked widespread anger and division, prompting massive protests, which organizers claim were the largest in Israel’s history.
In response to the public outcry, the Supreme Court, with eightout of 15 judges in agreement, deemed the law unconstitutional, stating that it would have caused “severe and unprecedented damage to the basic characteristics of the State of Israel as a democratic state.“
Justice Minister Yariv Levin, the architect of the law, criticized the court’s decision as undemocratic, accusing the judges of taking on excessive powers. Conversely, opposition leader Yair Lapid welcomed the verdict, asserting that the top court had fulfilled its role in protecting citizens.
The “reasonableness” law was part of a broader set of judicial reforms introduced by the Netanyahu government. These reforms sought to diminish the Supreme Court’s power to review or nullify laws, allowing a simple majority in the parliament to overrule such decisions. The government also aimed to increase its influence over judicial appointments and eliminate the requirement for ministers to follow legal advice.
Prime Minister Netanyahu argued that these changes were necessary to rebalance the relationship between judges and politicians. However, the Supreme Court’s ruling intensifies the challenges facing his government, already under domestic pressure due to perceived failures in handling security issues and hostage situations.