Israel’s opposition wins seat on judges panel

JERUSALEM

The Knesset (Israel's parliament) on Wednesday elected an opposition member to sit on a committee that appoints judges.

Karine Elharrar was chosen to be a member of the judicial panel in a 58-56 vote, meaning that she got at least four votes from lawmakers in the ruling coalition, the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition has 64 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, while the opposition has 56 seats.

The judicial panel is made up of nine members, including two Knesset members, two ministers, two representatives of the Israeli Bar Association and three judges from the Supreme Court.

A second lawmaker will be elected to sit on the panel during a Knesset session to be held within a month.

Israel has been in political turmoil over the past few months over a plan by the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for judicial reforms, which the opposition views as a power grab in favor of the executive authority.

Netanyahu, however, insists that his plan would enhance democracy and restore the balance among the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar