What happened?
After seven months of debate, the government on 23 July managed to scrap the "reasonableness" clause that allows Israel's unelected supreme court to overrule government decisions, after a final vote of 64-0. Every member of the coalition voted in favour, while opposition lawmakers abandoned the Knesset plenum in protest.
Earlier in the year, the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, appeared more willing to cut a deal with the opposition and temper the judicial proposals, but he was believed to be hostage to the demands of his far-right coalition partners, who could bring down the government if their demands are not met. In recent weeks, however, the prime minister has taken a more strident tone, promising that the judicial overhaul would go ahead and that it would "safeguard, rather than endanger" democracy. A former special forces captain, Netanyahu seems particularly irked by what he views as insubordination in the military.
Israel is facing an unprecedented constitutional crisis in which the supreme court could strike down the legislation designed to curb its powers, and the government could choose not to comply. Other expected developments include stepped-up street protests and strike action, and a refusal to report for duty by more than 10,000 military reservists.
What else is the government proposing?
Esta historia es de la edición August 04, 2023 de The Guardian Weekly.
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