Netanyahu gives message to continue with controversial judicial regulation

Netanyahu addressed the nation as civil disobedience protests continue across the country against the government’s controversial judicial regulation.

Netanyahu asserted that the government will “self-manage from now on” the process related to judicial regulation, saying that he will “take steps to address the concerns of his supporters and opponents” regarding the regulation.

Netanyahu said that the legislative arrangement that will allow the government to have a say in the selection of Supreme Court judges will go before Parliament next week.

The main opposition leader, former Prime Minister Yair Lapid, said in a statement on social media that Netanyahu had lost control and was “a puppet of Justice Minister Yariv Levin.”

Lapid stressed that the fact that Netanyahu took the regulation to Parliament showed that “the call for dialogue was not sincere” and that the Prime Minister was “bluffing.”

MOVING MINUTES ON ISRAEL POLITICS

Before Netanyahu announced that he would deliver his address to the nation in the evening, the Israeli media announced that Defense Minister Yoav Gallant would hold a press conference to call for “the cessation of judicial regulation.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Gallant for about 20 minutes in the evening.

In a written statement made by the Defense Ministry after the meeting, Gallant was reported to have spoken with the Prime Minister about the impact of the nationwide anti-regulation protests on the military.

Gallant was claimed to have canceled the press conference due to Netanyahu’s request and the Prime Minister’s speech.

REACTIONS WITHIN THE COALITION TO THE POSSIBLE DISCLOSURE OF GALLANT

After the announcement that Gallant would call on the government to stop judicial regulation, the statements of the parties of the Netanyahu coalition overlapped.

The ultra-Orthodox Shas and United Torah Judaism parties gave the message that they would not oppose if judicial regulation were halted, declaring that they would “appreciate the way you chose” for Netanyahu’s judicial regulation.

Some lawmakers and ministers from Netanyahu’s Likud party have said the government should continue its controversial judicial regulation.

The far-right parties Jewish Power and Religious Zionism, which are partners in the coalition, gave a message to continue with judicial regulation. In a written statement, the Jewish Power Party accused Gallant of “betrayal of the right and being soft on terrorism.”

PROTESTS across the country

In Israel, mass protests were held across the country as part of the “day of civil disobedience” against legislation by the Benjamin Netanyahu government that restricts the powers of the judiciary.

As the government moved step by step to pass the controversial judiciary regulations to Parliament, actions across the country by groups who considered this an “intervention in the judiciary” increased, lasting for 12 weeks.

Israeli police have detained at least 100 people across the country, including leaders of the protest movement.

The protests, which were attended by tens of thousands of demonstrators at dozens of points across the country, especially in major cities such as Tel Aviv, Haifa, West Jerusalem and Netanya, continued into the night.

DISCUSSION JURISDICTION

Justice Minister Yariv Levin announced on January 5 that they were planning a “judicial reform” that would limit the powers of the Supreme Court and reduce the influence of the judiciary in the selection of judges.

Moves by the Netanyahu-led coalition government to transfer some of the powers of the judiciary to Parliament sparked tensions between the government and the Israeli judiciary, especially the Supreme Court.

Israel’s Supreme Court, which acts as the country’s highest judicial authority, has the authority to strike down laws passed by the Assembly on the grounds that they are contrary to “fundamental laws” accepted as a constitutional project.

Netanyahu’s government stated in the court ruling that it announced that the Supreme Court’s authority to strike down laws passed by Parliament would be largely removed.

The government’s judicial regulation, which restricts the powers of the judiciary and provides for the power to have a say in judicial appointments, was heavily criticized for limiting the powers of the judiciary within Israel and internationally.

The alternative bill presented by President Isaac Herzog, which warns the parties of “civil war”, was also rejected by the government.

Thousands of Israeli army reservists, including fighter pilots, submarine officers, cybersecurity experts and special forces, announced they would not continue their duties or attend training if the government implemented the controversial court regulation.

In Israel, domestic and foreign intelligence agencies and employees of other security institutions have also announced their objections to the government’s judicial regulations.

On the other hand, despite the ongoing debates and reactions, Parliament today approved the bill that “makes it difficult to dismiss the prime minister” within the framework of “judicial reform.” (AA)