Reform of justice in Israel: the president of the Supreme Court rebels
Esther Hayut, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Israel, surrounded by Benni Gantz on his right, and Benyamin Netanyahu on his left, in 2019, in Jerusalem (photo illustration).
AP - Ariel Schalit
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
Is Israeli democracy in danger?
The new government, the result of an alliance between right-wing, far-right and religious parties, presented a justice reform project a few days ago.
Objective: to weaken the judiciary and strengthen the legislature.
For the first time in the history of the Jewish state, the president of the Supreme Court emerged from her reserve.
She denounces "
a fatal blow
" to democracy.
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With our correspondent in Jerusalem,
Sami Boukhelifa
An unprecedented speech, at the height of the danger that weighs on the Jewish state.
The confrontation now takes place in the public square.
On one side, the brand new Minister of Justice, Yariv Levin.
It is he who carries the judicial reform project.
On the other: the country's chief magistrate, Esther Hayut.
His speaking out is unprecedented.
"
Israeli democracy is in danger
," says the head of the country's highest court.
In Israel, there is no Constitution.
The Supreme Court acts as a safeguard.
It can repeal laws voted by parliamentarians if it considers them to be contrary to the fundamental laws.
In the Israel of the future, as dreamed of by the new government – the most right-wing in the country's history – politics has full power.
The deputies will have a “derogation” clause, a sort of veto over the decisions of the Supreme Court.
Parliamentarians will also be able to appoint the judges who sit there.
"
It's not a reform, it's the end of the independence of justice […] the beginning of tyranny
", protests Esther Hayut.
“
Where is the neutrality?
“replied Yariv Levin.
“
You are, in fact, the political voice of the opposition.
»
►Read again: Israel: Parliament renews the extension of criminal law to settlers living in the West Bank
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Israel
Binyamin Netanyahu
Justice