Israel’s Knesset advances bill limiting powers of Supreme Court

JERUSALEM

The Knesset (Israel’s parliament) on Tuesday passed in the first reading a bill that restricts the powers of the Supreme Court.

The draft law was approved by 61-52 votes in the 120-seat Knesset, according to a statement released by the assembly.

The bill needs to pass three readings in the Knesset in order to become effective.

The draft law narrows the conditions upon which the Supreme Court can assume its role regarding judicial oversight and its capability to decide on laws approved by the Knesset.

For more than two months, Israel has seen mass protests against government plans for judicial reform.

Proposed by Justice Minister Yariv Levin, the reform, if enacted, would be the most radical change ever in the system of government in Israel.

The planned change would severely limit the power of the Supreme Court of Justice, give the government the power to choose judges, and end the appointment of legal advisers to ministries by the attorney general.

However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption, insists that his judicial plan would enhance democracy.

*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat in Ankara