Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reshuffled the selection committee for judges, according to a draft law published Wednesday, as his far-right government gains influence in appointments to the Supreme Court.
Reuters said that Netanyahu - whose national-religious alliance was sworn in last month - is seeking judicial reforms that have raised concerns in Israel and abroad about the integrity of democracy, while Netanyahu says he will preserve the independence of the judiciary.
The Judicial Selection Committee currently consists of 3 Supreme Court justices, two ministers, two Knesset members and two lawyers.
The appointment of a judge requires the approval of at least 7 of the 9 votes, in a majority intended to encourage consensus.
Under the bill drawn up by Justice Minister Yariv Levin, the committee will expand to 11 members;
Seven of them support the government or lead it, giving it a potential automatic majority.
The number of Knesset members in the committee shall be increased to 3, provided that 2 of them shall be from the ruling coalition, and the number of ministers participating in the committee shall be increased to 3. The lawyers shall be replaced by two "public figures" chosen by the Minister of Justice, only one of whom shall be a lawyer.
Levin's legislation consolidates control of the Supreme Court by requiring a unanimous ruling to annul basic laws passed by the Knesset, which serve as the constitution in Israel.
The bill also does away with "reasonableness" as a criterion for reviewing Supreme Court rulings against government powers.