A reform project aims to increase the power of elected officials on that of the magistrates and jeopardize according to its detractors the democratic character of the State of Israel.
MO12345LEMONDE With AFP
brandishing the Israeli blue and white flag, thousands of people demonstrated on Saturday in the center of Tel Aviv and in 20 cities in the country. For the fifth week since the government of Benyamin Netanyahu took office in December, they protest against the controversial judicial reforms envisaged by the government of the Israeli Prime Minister. Israeli police have not provided any figures on the number of demonstrators.
m. Netanyahu returned in December to the head of government combining right -wing, far -right and Jewish ultraorthodox parties, the most right of the history of Israel. In early January, the Minister of Justice Yariv Levin announced a reform project comprising the introduction of a “derogatory” clause allowing Parliament to cancel a simple majority a decision of the Supreme Court. This reform aims to increase the power of elected officials on that of magistrates and jeopardize the democratic character of the State of Israel according to its detractors.
Still in January, Mr. Netanyahu was forced, under pressure from justice, to dismiss the number two of the government Arié Dery, sentenced for tax fraud. At the end of December, the deputies voted a text, baptized “dery law” by the press, authorizing a person found guilty of a crime, but not sentenced to prison, to sit on the government. The Supreme Court criticized this law and estimated that the appointment of Mr. Dery was “in serious contradiction with the fundamental principles of the rule of law”.
m. Netanyahu is himself tried for corruption in several cases and his trial is underway. In Israel, the Prime Minister has no judicial immunity but does not have to resign or withdraw during the duration of his trial. The government has also announced its intention to pursue a policy of expansion of the colonies in occupied West Bank, as well as social reforms that worried the LGBTQ community.