Despite a dramatic speech by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant calling for a freeze on the contentious plan to reduce the power of Israel's Supreme Court in the name of national security, the legislation appears on track for passage this week. The plan, which has caused demonstrations and divided Israeli society, is divided into multiple bills. Two important members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party stated that while a pause may be preferable, they intend to support the latest bill in the upcoming vote. The vote will grant politicians a dominant role in the selection of judges, including high-court justices, replacing the current system where sitting justices and legal professionals hold significant influence.
Advocates of the bill argue that in most democracies, election winners have the right to choose judges, and they are attempting to align Israel with this practice. However, the bill's opponents, which include hundreds of thousands of demonstrators who take to the streets every week, as well as business, professional, and military leaders, argue that the legislation will concentrate too much power in the hands of the ruling party, which could harm democracy.
Many of Israel's allies, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, share similar concerns, stating that a fully independent and robust judiciary is critical to the proper functioning of a democracy. The controversy has rocked Israeli markets and its currency.
Initially, Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter was said to be in agreement with Gallant's call for a postponement, but he later issued a statement on Sunday affirming his support for the judicial reform, stating that it is necessary and will be implemented.
According to reports from Israeli media, Dichter, a former head of the Shin Bet internal security service, could be asked by Netanyahu to replace Gallant as defense minister. However, Netanyahu has not publicly commented on Gallant's opposition to the bill, as he was in London at the time of the speech.
Likud member Eli Dallal, who had previously called for a freeze on the bill, has also declared his intention to vote with his party to advance the legislation, as per a report by Channel 12 news on Sunday. Meanwhile, two other Likud members, Yuli Edelstein and David Bitan, expressed their support for Gallant's stance via Twitter on Saturday evening. However, more lawmakers will need to join them to block the bill's passage, as scheduled.
Netanyahu has formed the most right-wing and religious government in Israel's history. His coalition partners have often complained that the Supreme Court obstructs their preferred actions, such as expanding West Bank settlements, detaining refugees and allowing ultra-Orthodox men to skip military service for religious studies.
On Sunday, a senior security official explained why Gallant felt compelled to make his speech. The official warned that the disintegration of Israeli unity poses a genuine security threat, citing a rise in threats from Iran, extremist Palestinian groups, and Lebanon, as well as a decrease in the United States' deterrent role in the region.
The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, stated that Israeli intelligence has been monitoring its adversaries' discussions regarding the internal rift. "We are hearing them talk about it," the official remarked. "We must ensure that our standing and deterrence are not harmed."
Another factor that has alarmed Gallant is a small but growing movement of reservists who refuse to respond to call-ups as a form of protest. In his speech, Gallant not only called for the legislation to be halted but also for the demonstrations and refusals to cease.