Israel's Parliament Passes Law Weakening Supreme Court

Israel's parliament on July 24 approved a law that limits the Israeli Supreme Court's ability to challenge parliamentary decisions. The law includes a provision that prevents judges from striking down government decisions on the basis that they are “extremely unreasonable." The law taking effect would mean the Supreme Court would not be able to review decisions, such as the termination of officials, on grounds of being unreasonable. The law, part of a plan backed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that would change the judiciary, was passed in a 64–0 vote after opponents walked out rather than voting against it. The first procedural vote was 64–56. Justice Minister Yariv Levin, the architect of the plan, said parliament had taken the “first step in an important historic process” of overhauling the judiciary. Other parts of the plan include a bill that would let a majority of the parliament overturn Supreme Court decisions and a law that would enable parliament to select judges. The Movement for Quality Government, which opposes the law, quickly asked the country's highest court to act against the law over it allegedly being unconstitutional.