The Anti-Democratic Coup in Israel
Israel’s ongoing troubles regarding the proposed Supreme Court overhaul are not merely a matter of judicial reform, but rather an alarming attempt at an antidemocratic coup. The newly-formed far-right coalition government has been rapidly pushing through a series of highly contentious laws, which collectively signify one ominous outcome: the government would be granted unchecked power to pass any law it desires, and interpret existing laws without any accountability or safeguards for the rights of minority groups within the nation. This has prompted concerns among legal experts and human rights advocates who fear that the proposed overhaul would pose a significant threat to Israel's democratic foundations and exacerbate the already-tense political climate in the region.
The Israeli government's proposed Supreme Court overhaul has sparked vehement backlash, resulting in the formation of a formidable resistance movement. The opposition to the reforms can be attributed to the fact that the laws being proposed would effectively render the judiciary powerless to check government initiatives, allowing it to pass and interpret laws as it sees fit. The magnitude of the threat posed by these laws has even galvanised the country's high-tech sector, which has declared a state of emergency and granted employees time off to participate in the protests against the proposed overhauls in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. With the global investment community already spooked and billions of dollars exiting the country, leading figures in the tech industry understand that a democratic society with an independent judiciary is essential for the survival of their industry and economic prosperity.
Why has Israel made the judicial system its enemy?
To fully comprehend the current conflict between the Israeli right and the judiciary, it is imperative to acknowledge the role that the judiciary system has played in impeding the right's territorial agenda in the West Bank. Despite the court's apparent support of the occupation and the settlement enterprise, several past court decisions to demolish illegal outposts and halt the demolition of Palestinian homes have convinced the pro-settler government that the court is an obstacle to their ultimate goal. Justice Minister Yariv Levin has been particularly vocal in this regard, leaving no doubt about the right's stance towards the judiciary.
Subsequently, an unbridled government endowed with boundless authority, devoid of any institutional mechanism to impede its decisions, could propel towards a theocratic state, a desired objective of some factions within the ruling coalition. Similarly, such a government could annex the West Bank without extending citizenship or rights to the millions of Palestinians inhabiting the region, with no legal impediment in its path.
What does ‘temporary suspension’ mean?
The ongoing crisis in Israel remains unresolved despite the success of the mass protests in compelling Prime Minister Netanyahu to temporarily suspend his government's judicial overhaul. It is important to note that this development cannot be characterised as a definitive resolution, but rather a temporary cessation of hostilities. The underlying issues at stake, including the erosion of democratic institutions and the potential marginalisation of minority groups, continue to pose a significant threat to the stability of Israeli society. As such, sustained efforts are necessary to address these fundamental challenges and ensure the protection of democratic principles and civil liberties in Israel.
It is essential to maintain the pressure on the government to ensure that the attack on the judiciary is not just paused, but entirely abandoned. Furthermore, it is critical to recognize that this attack on the judiciary is only one aspect of a broader campaign by ultranationalist and theocratic parties in Israel. This campaign seeks to give Jewish settlers a freer hand in expanding and legalising the West Bank settlements, changing the status quo on the Temple Mount.
The current state of affairs in Israel poses a significant threat to the country's democratic institutions and principles. The success of the resistance movement in putting the judicial overhaul on pause is a small victory in a larger battle to protect Israeli democracy. The international community must continue to monitor the situation in Israel and exert pressure on the government to safeguard the country's democratic identity.