Israeli judicial overhaul

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) with Justice Minister Yariv Levin at the Knesset in Jerusalem, on June 7, 2023. (Oren Ben Hakoon/Flash90)

PM said ready to ‘go all the way’ with reasonableness bill to limit judicial review

Netanyahu expected to wait until legislation goes for 1st Knesset reading to gauge public reaction before deciding if other elements of overhaul will be advanced in current session

People protest against the planned judicial overhaul in Tel Aviv, on June 24, 2023. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

25th week of rallies: Protesters warn of escalation if coalition moves unilaterally

By ToI Staff

Benjamin Netanyahu arrives for a court hearing in his trial at the Jerusalem District Court on May 31, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/ Flash90)

Netanyahu allies claim doubts over bribery charge prove need to overhaul judiciary

By ToI Staff

Newly elected head of the Israeli Bar Association Amit Becher at a press conference for the announcement of the election results for the Israeli Bar Association in Tel Aviv, June 21, 2023. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

Winning bar contest, Becher spoils coalition hope of controlling judge picks, for now

By Jeremy Sharon

June 26, 2023, 8:12 am

PM said ready to ‘go all the way’ with reasonableness bill to limit judicial review

Netanyahu expected to wait until legislation goes for 1st Knesset reading to gauge public reaction before deciding if other elements of overhaul will be advanced in current session

By ToI Staff

Likud MK Hanoch Milwidsky speaks during a Knesset Finance Committee hearing, February 22, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

June 25, 2023, 7:34 pm

Government backs bill to siphon off most of Israel Bar Association’s powers

Licensing, bar exams and sanctioning lawyers are among powers to be transferred to a new Lawyers Council; current text would also strip IBA of seats on judge-selecting panel

By Carrie Keller-Lynn

MK Simcha Rothman leads a Knesset Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee discussion, June 25, 2023 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

June 25, 2023, 4:50 pm

Knesset restarts judicial overhaul with bill to broadly outlaw ‘reasonableness’ test

Rothman says nixing court review of decisions by elected officials is ‘democratic;’ legal adviser warns bill is ‘too broad’ and opposition says it’s a pathway to ‘corruption’

By Carrie Keller-Lynn

(L) MK Simcha Rotman at the Knesset on June 20, 2023 (Oren Ben Hakoon/Flash90) () Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Knesset on May 15, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90) and (R) Justice Minister Yariv Levin at a cabinet in Jerusalem on May 28, 2023 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

June 25, 2023, 8:44 am

Knesset committee to advance ‘reasonableness’ bill, limiting judicial review

Panel headed by far-right MK Rothman will discuss curtailing court’s ability to invalidate decisions made by PM, ministers, cabinet, elected officials

By ToI Staff

June 24, 2023, 11:13 pm

25th week of rallies: Protesters warn of escalation if coalition moves unilaterally

As some 100,000 demonstrate in Tel Aviv and thousands protest elsewhere, leaders maintain dark forces continue to threaten Israel’s democracy

By ToI Staff

June 23, 2023, 11:30 pm

Netanyahu allies claim doubts over bribery charge prove need to overhaul judiciary

After judges in Netanyahu trial reportedly warn prosecutors over weakness of accusation, politicians say it shows dangers of allowing a state body to act without oversight

By ToI Staff

Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli speaks at the AJC Global Forum in Tel Aviv, on June 14, 2023 (Miriam Alster/FLASH90)

June 22, 2023, 11:48 am

Chikli irritated US Democrat lawmakers by telling them he’s ‘not woke’ – report

Diaspora affairs minister with history of contentious remarks made comment at meeting in US earlier this month; says he wasn’t trying to be confrontational

By ToI Staff

June 21, 2023, 10:40 pm

Winning bar contest, Becher spoils coalition hope of controlling judge picks, for now

Victorious new Israel Bar Association chair says his election will go down as ‘an important chapter in the history of Israeli democracy’

By Jeremy Sharon

Interim head of the Israel Bar Association Amit Becher (left) and former Israel Bar Association head Efi Nave (right). Becher and Nave are the leading candidates in the elections for IBA chairman set for June 20, 2023. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90 and Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

June 21, 2023, 10:28 am

In blow to coalition, anti-overhaul Becher expected to win Bar Association vote

Government’s preferred candidate Nave admits defeat; results seen as crucial in larger fight over Judicial Selection Committee and effort to curb High Court’s powers

By Jeremy Sharon and ToI Staff

Lawyers cast their ballots for the head of the Israel Bar Association at a voting station at the Magistrate's Court in Jerusalem, June 20, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

June 20, 2023, 9:56 pm

Chaos in crucial Bar Association elections as high turnout complicates vote

Some voters report waiting many hours to cast ballots, as attorneys scramble to address prospect of government controlling judicial selection without the need for legislation

By Jeremy Sharon

MK Simcha Rothman, head of the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, seen during a committee meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, on May 29, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

June 20, 2023, 4:56 pm

Rothman readies bill to greatly limit judicial review for Knesset committee hearing

Amendment to Basic Law barring the use of ‘reasonableness’ expected to come before panel next week; MK Gideon Sa’ar calls wording ‘very, very extreme and very, very dangerous’

By Jeremy Sharon

Commander of the Coastal District of the Israel Police Yoram Sofer at a ceremony for incoming National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, in Jerusalem on January 1, 2023. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

June 20, 2023, 4:31 pm

Police chief said to speak out against possible replacement who backs Ben Gvir

In leaks from closed-door meeting, Commissioner Shabtai is heard saying force will preserve the right to protest as senior cops discuss coastal region chief Yoram Sofer

By ToI Staff

Lawyers vote in the Israel Bar Association election at the Magistrate's Court in Jerusalem, June 20, 2023 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

June 20, 2023, 1:55 pm

Lawyers vote for leadership of bar association, a key factor in selection of judges

Turnout high as top candidates trade barbs; victory of government ally over staunch overhaul critic could mean government will be able to remake judiciary without legislation

By ToI Staff and Jeremy Sharon

(L) Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich at the Knesset in Jerusalem, May 1, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90) (R) President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem, June 14, 2023 (Noam Revkin Fenton/Flash90)

June 20, 2023, 11:16 am

Smotrich: ‘Leftist’ Herzog can’t act as fair mediator in judicial overhaul talks

Far-right minister says president ‘100% aligned with the left’; Gantz: Herzog working day and night to prevent ‘destruction of democracy’

By ToI Staff and Carrie Keller-Lynn

Israelis protest against the government's planned judicial overhaul, outside PM Benjamin Netanyahu's residence in Jerusalem, on May 25, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

June 20, 2023, 1:35 am

US says overhaul consensus crucial as Netanyahu coalition unilaterally restarts push

White House reiterates importance of ‘broadest possible base of popular support’ for judicial reforms as bill shackling court on ‘reasonableness’ doctrine heads to committee

By Jacob Magid and Carrie Keller-Lynn