The Israeli parliament has approved the first of controversial laws to reform the judicial system. The rule protects the premier Benjamin Netanyahu of the possibility of being challenged or declared unfit to perform the functions of his office, while the process is open for various allegations of corruption.
The law passed its third and final reading at 6:00 in the morning (1:00 in Argentina) after a plenary session which it lasted all night with 61 votes in favor, against 47 against, after long and heated discussions.
The rule is part of the controversial judicial reform promoted by the Netanyahu government that has provoked a broad social response with massive protests across the country going on for nearly three months, seen as a threat to democracy reducing the independence of the judiciary and taking away the supervisory powers of the Supreme Court.
The opposition has been presented numerous objections to this legislation, which has been drafted in an accelerated wayand is considered “tailored” to protect Netanyahu, who he is facing serious legal problems with three cases opened by fraud, corruption and breach of trust, which he denies.
what the law says
legislation explicitly prevents to the Supreme Court to order a prime minister to take a “leave of leave”, seen as a reaction to fears that the court could force Netanyahu to step down over a conflict of interest, as the leader of a ruling coalition pushing for drastic judicial reform while facing several allegations of corruption.
According to the new recusal lawonly a three-quarters majority vote of government ministers, followed by ratification by the same proportion of MPs (at least 90 MPs), can compel a prime minister to take temporary leave, and for mental or physical health reasons only.
Opposition leader, centrist Yair Lapid, criticized the passage of the law and members of the coalition, whom he accused of behaving like “thieves in the night” that “they approved a personal law, obscene and corrupt against an unsubstantiated rumor about a possible recusal”.
According to an agreement reached with the Prosecutor’s Office in 2020, in the midst of the judicial process, Netanyahu cannot be involved from the political sphere in legislation affecting justice, and therefore cannot promote or vote on the laws that make up the judicial reform.
Arguments for and against
Unconfirmed reports, and later denied by the prosecutor’s office, indicated in February that the state attorney general, Gali Baharav-Miara, a vocal critic of judicial reform, was considering ordering the recusal of the prime minister when there is a conflict of interest between the reform project promoted by your government and its lawsuits pending before the courts.
The reform asks give the government full control over the appointment of judges, including those of the Supreme Court, which could directly impact a possible appeal of the verdict of his pending trial; As well as including a controversial “termination clause” which would allow Parliament reverse the judgments of the Supreme Court or even protect laws so that they cannot be submitted to that court’s constitutional review.
Baharav-Miara’s office said last month that it opposes the impeachment bill because it would sharply reduce the circumstances under which a prime minister’s suspension could be ordered, warning that the bill it would create a legal “black hole”.
Proponents of the changes claim they are designed to protect the will of voters of overreach of the court, but critics say it removes regulations intended to prevent civil servants from using their authority for personal gain.
The coalition is leading a second bill to prevent the court from reviewing ministerial appointments.
This will pave the way for Shas’ ultra-Orthodox leader Aryeh Deri to return to the government as Home and Health Minister, after being challenged by the Supreme Court in January for stockpiling this several convictions for corruption and accepting a plea deal last year that prevented him from holding public office.
EFE and AP
ap
Source: Clarin
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