Israel’s PM Delays Overhaul Judicial Reforms
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will delay the process for discussions on the controversial planned judicial overhaul to next month, said coalition member party Jewish Power on Monday.
The announcement came amid massive strikes and protests against the bill that paralyzed the Jewish state.
The statement said the legislation would be pushed to the next session of the Israeli parliament to “pass the reform through dialogue.”
That could take longer than initially planned as Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, will go on recess next week for the Passover holiday.
The proposed bill has come under criticism from opponents who fear it increases political control over the judiciary.
It would give the executive control over appointing judges to the Supreme Court and allow the government to override court rulings based on a parliamentary majority.
The government claims the overhaul is needed to rein in activist judges and set a proper balance between the elected government and the judiciary.
But opponents see it as an undermining of legal checks and balances and a threat to Israel’s democracy.
The decision to postpone debating the bill came as hundreds of thousands of people stopped working Monday to protest his planned overhaul of the country’s judiciary.
Netanyahu urged calm and asked protestors to remain peaceful. “We are brothers,” he said.
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