New rallies are being held Thursday in Israel to denounce a reform of the judicial system seen as a threat to democracy and carried by the government of Benjamin Netanyahu, which rejected a presidential call for compromise.
The reform, several provisions of which have already been adopted in the first reading in Parliament, "is the end of democracy", can we read on a sign held up in the center of Tel Aviv, while other demonstrations are organized in Haifa (north) or Jerusalem.
"I fear that this place will become a religious state, that Jewish laws will come to the fore and that democratic freedom as we know it no longer exists," researcher Liat Tzvi, 52, told AFP. at Tel Aviv University.
The protest movement began in early January, after the presentation of the reform by the Netanyahu government formed in December with right-wing, far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties.
The protesters denounce the project as a whole, which intends to limit the prerogatives of the Supreme Court, but also the general policy of the government, and accuse the Prime Minister, charged with corruption in a series of cases, of wanting to use the law to quash any judgment coming to condemn him.
On Tuesday, Parliament adopted at first reading a provision allowing certain decisions of the Supreme Court to be overturned by a simple majority, i.e. 61 deputies out of 120, (the derogation clause). Other decried provisions, in particular on the procedure for appointing judges, had already been adopted in February at first reading.
A vote at second and then at third reading are still necessary before the reform bill becomes law.
Mr. Netanyahu and his allies consider the reform necessary to restore a balance of power between elected officials and the Supreme Court, which they consider politicized.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday presented a draft compromise on the reform project but the government immediately opposed it.
"Anyone who thinks a civil war is impossible has no idea how close we are to it (...) but I won't let it happen," said Mr. Herzog, adding that he was convinced that "the majority of Israelis want a compromise."
Mr Netanyahu claimed that this compromise had not been accepted by the ruling coalition and that “key points in his program only perpetuate the existing situation and do not bring the required balance between the powers”.
16/03/2023 13:49:05 Tel Aviv (AFP) © 2023 AFP
