Netanyahu drops key part of Israel judicial overhaul plans

[Eugene]

1. Netanyahu angers coalition partners by ditching part of judicial overhaul

Source: The Guardian

Netanyahu angers coalition partners by ditching part of judicial overhaul

Israeli PM says he has thrown out controversial measure to allow parliament to override supreme court decisions

Bethan McKernan in Jerusalem
Fri 30 Jun 2023 15.57 BST

A surprise announcement from Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, that one of the most controversial elements of his government’s proposed judicial overhaul will be dropped, has angered his coalition partners and failed to placate protesters opposed to the plans.

“The idea of an override clause, where the parliament, the Knesset, can override the decisions of the supreme court with a simple majority, I said, I threw that out … It’s out,” Netanyahu said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal published on Thursday.

Another contested element giving politicians more control over the appointment of judges, would be revised, he said. The prime minister went on to say he was “attentive to the public pulse, and to what I think will pass muster”, and that he intended to find common ground with opponents of the plan.

Netanyahu’s coalition of rightwing and ultra-Orthodox parties introduced a package of sweeping judicial changes shortly after he returned to office in December. The legislation is aimed at curbing the influence of the country’s supreme court, which the Israeli right has long alleged is biased and too powerful.

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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/30/benjamin-netanyahu-angers-coalition-partners-by-ditching-part-of-judicial-overhaul

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