Israel’s government passes first part of its legal overhaul

AP:

The Israeli government has passed the first major piece of legislation in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to overhaul the country’s legal system – part of a broader plan that has triggered nationwide protests, divided the country, and rattled the powerful military and influential business community.

The plan seeks to weaken the country’s Supreme Court and transfer more powers to the parliament. Supporters say Israel’s unelected judges wield too much power. But opponents say the judges play an important oversight role, and that the plan will push Israel towards autocratic rule.

Despite the fraught atmosphere, Netanyahu’s allies say they are moving forward on the overhaul.

Here’s a look at how the overhaul could affect Israel in the coming months:

WHY IS THE COUNTRY SO DIVIDED?

Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption charges, has long been a polarising leader. His government took office in December after narrowly winning the country’s fifth election in under four years. All of those elections focused on Netanyahu’s fitness to rule.

These divisions have been reflected in the debate about the overhaul – stretching across religious, class and ethnic lines.

The anti-government protesters come largely from Israel’s urban middle class and include doctors, academics, military officers and business leaders. Netanyahu’s supporters tend to be poorer, more religious, and include residents of West Bank settlements and outlying areas. Many are working-class Jews of Mizrahi, or Middle Eastern descent who see themselves marginalised by an Ashkenazi, or European elite.

Following the Knesset vote that pushed the law through on Monday, Netanyahu appealed for unity and dialogue. But his opponents rejected the offer as insincere and vowed to continue the protests.

“The morning after, we emerge to an Israel with internal battle lines drawn, an Israel potentially at war with itself, a government certainly at war with much, perhaps most of the people,” wrote David Horovitz, founding editor of the Times of Israel news site.

Simcha Rothman, the Israeli lawmaker who has spearheaded the overhaul, said he hopes the opposition will be “responsible” and return to negotiations. But he made it clear he is not done.

“We have the majority,” he said, referring to the parliamentary coalition. “The majority of the people in Israel still support the reform.”

Thousands of military reservists have threatened to stop reporting for duty now that the first law has been passed. The military depends heavily on these volunteer reservists, particularly air force pilots, intelligence officers and members of other specialised units.

Current and former military brass have warned that if the reservists follow through on their threats, the military’s ability to function in a national emergency could be compromised.

“If we don’t have a strong and united defence force, if Israel’s best do not serve in the IDF, we will no longer be able to exist as a country in the region,” warned Lt General Herzi Halevi, the chief of staff.