Report

After 18 weeks, Israelis keep up the pressure against justice reform

Audio 01:25

Protesters hold a large banner depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a protest against his government's plans to reform the judiciary, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, May 6, 2023. AP - Ariel Schalit

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

In Israel, another Saturday night of nationwide protest on May 6, 2023. Consultation on a compromise on the reform of the judicial system is stalling. The opposition is threatening to withdraw. The demonstrators are determined to keep up the pressure.

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With our correspondent in Jerusalem, Michel Paul

18th consecutive week of demonstrations, the protest movement against the reform of the justice system does not run out of steam. 150,000 people in Tel Aviv, tens of thousands in Haifa and Jerusalem and other Israeli cities.

The "pause" announced by Benjamin Netanyahu to "give dialogue a chance" does not seem to be working. Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz, the leaders of the opposition, are threatening to leave the negotiations if there is no progress towards a way out of the crisis.

This is also the opinion of cartoonist Michel Kishka: "I do not think that anything will come out of the talks. We have no choice, we really have no choice. One thing is clear, we know exactly what they wanted to do. They wanted to end liberal democracy, and they won't."

In a statement on Saturday, the organizers of the rallies again accused the prime minister of wanting to turn Israel into a "dangerous and messianic dictatorship."

"This is a hopeful movement. »

Many observant Jews were among the protesters. For Rabbi Alain Michel, there is no hesitation. The protest must continue. "Unfortunately, this is the only way for the government to give in and agree to find real compromises. This is, I think, one of the miracles of this movement, it is an opportunity to strengthen cohesion in Israel. It's a hopeful movement," he said.

A hope to be placed in a context of ever-increasing discontent, aggravated this week by a new outbreak of violence and the firing of more than a hundred rockets on the south of the country.

What does this reform of justice contain?

With this bill, the government wants to review the powers of the Supreme Court. Thus, he wants to include an "override" clause that would allow Parliament, with a simple majority vote, to overturn a Supreme Court decision.

The reform also proposes to remove lawyers from the panel that appoints Supreme Court justices. Today, it is composed of a group of judges, deputies and lawyers from the Bar, under the supervision of the Minister of Justice.

The government also wants to prevent judges from invoking the "reasonableness" of certain policy decisions. A desire motivated by the decision of January 18 of the Court to invalidate the appointment of Arié Dery as Minister of the Interior and Health because of a conviction for tax fraud. The Supreme Court had deemed this appointment not "reasonable", thus pushing the Prime Minister to remove the minister from office.

And finally, the government wants to reduce the influence of legal advisers in ministries because their recommendations are used by Supreme Court judges when they rule on the good conduct of government. The Minister of Justice therefore wants them to be clearly considered as non-binding opinions.

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• Israel
• Justice
• Benjamin Netanyahu