Israel’s president calls for suspension of judicial reform

The President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, requested this Monday (27.Mar.2023) that the judicial reform under consideration in Parliament be suspended. According to him, the polarization caused by the measure put “security, economy and society” of the country under threat. He asked the government tochord”, because this is “it’s not a political moment“, but “of leadership and responsibility”.

Since the reform was proposed in early 2023 by the Israeli prime minister’s government, Benjamin Netanyahuone wave of demonstrations crosses Israel. If the text is approved, it will be possible for the Knesset (Israel’s Parliament) to review Supreme Court decisions.

“The eyes of all the people of Israel are on you. The eyes of all Jewish people are on you. The eyes of the whole world are on you”, wrote Herzog in his profile on Twitter. He addressed the Israeli Prime Minister and members of the government and the ruling base in Parliament.

“For the sake of the unity of the people of Israel, for the sake of accountability, I ask that you stop the legislative process immediately.”, he declared.

On Sunday (March 26), the Prime Minister dismissed the Minister of Defense, Yoav Gallant. The decision made hatch new protests through the streets of the country. Gallant was dismissed 1 day after breaking with the government and asking for the reform to be suspended.

According to the newspaper Times of Israel, Netanyahu would announce the suspension of the reform this Monday (27.mar). But parties of the radical right that form part of the ruling base and support the prime minister in power have threatened to stop their support if the measure is suspended. Now, the premier assesses the situation before deciding to pronounce.

Israel is a parliamentary republic. The Executive is formed by the majority in the Legislature. Netanyahu has 64 out of 120 votes in parliament. His coalition is made up of 5 right-wing parties, some of them extremists who have never been in power.