Voices are rising in the Likud urging a halt to judicial reform in Israel

This content was published on Mar 26, 2023 – 09:34
March 26, 2023 – 09:34
minutes

Jerusalem, March 26 (EFE). – The appeal of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who last night publicly urged a halt to judicial reform of his executive branch, shows how opposition to this plan is growing within Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party, which could lead to a crisis government if the cracks widen.

Gallant’s remarks, which she said yesterday that it was necessary to put an end to the controversial project that would undermine the separation of powers and the independence of justice in Israel, open the Likud’s prohibition for others in a similar position to express themselves publicly.

It represents domestic opposition to its leader, Prime Minister Netanyahu, and to the government coalition’s plans to advance judicial reform despite massive street protests against the plan and opposition parties’ discontent.

The objections to Gallant’s reforms join that of another powerful Likud lawmaker, former parliament speaker Yuli Edelstein, who has hinted he will not support the reform if it is voted on next week.

This means that the parliamentary majority to promote the bill has been reduced to 62 in a lower house (Knesset) of 120, just one more than the minimum majority of 61 seats needed to pass laws.

However, according to the Israeli press, three other Likud members supported Gallant’s call. These are the Minister of Agriculture, Avi Dichter, and Representatives David Bitan and Eli Dellal, although they did not say whether they would vote for or against reform.

If at least two do not support him, it will leave the coalition without a majority to advance the measure, which could plunge Israel into another government crisis and more instability.

The tension is very high due to the division caused by judicial reform, which is central to the political agenda of the Israeli right and the far right, which is opposed by the liberal sector and other population groups in Israel, where social polarization is exacerbated.

Gallant’s remarks last night came as Netanyahu ended his official visit to the United Kingdom, from which he returned today. So far, the Prime Minister has not commented on the matter and summoned the forces that make up his alliance for a meeting.

She did not wait for the reaction against Gallant within the government. Far-right national security chief Itamar Ben Gvir urged Netanyahu to remove him, while he came under heavy criticism from other Likud party members.

On the other hand, the opposition leader, former Prime Minister Yair Lapid, praised Gallant’s position, and called on the government to negotiate with opposition parties to reach a compromise on reform, mediated by Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

According to local media, Netanyahu is now planning to remove Galant from office, or expel him from the security cabinet if he does not vote in favor of the plan.

In the coming days, the government coalition was planning to speed up voting on another of the key laws in the judicial reform package, which would give the government de facto control over the judges’ selection committee, creating more political tension.

Critics of judicial reform believe that this vacancy is in the powers of the Supreme Court, because it will negate the powers to cancel procedures or rules approved by the government and which it considers unconstitutional. According to critics, this would effectively end the separation of powers in Israel and deal a blow to the formal foundations on which Israeli democracy rests. EFE

Gemma / Jack

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