Israel's Supreme Court Reviews Objections to Judicial Overhaul Law

On Thursday, October 6, Israel's Supreme Court reviewed objections to the country's judicial overhaul law. Critics argue that this law, which makes it more difficult to remove the Prime Minister, is designed to protect Benjamin Netanyahu. Earlier reports indicated that Netanyahu, who is pushing for changes to Israel's judicial system, is facing corruption charges. The Israeli coalition government passed a law in March of this year that allows the Prime Minister to be deemed incapacitated only for medical or mental health reasons. According to this law, only the Prime Minister or the government has the authority to make such a decision. The previous version of the law, which is being challenged, was ambiguous regarding the conditions under which a Prime Minister is deemed unfit to continue and who has the authority to declare this. However, experts say that Netanyahu's amendment clearly deprives the Attorney General, who historically has the power to declare a Prime Minister unfit to continue, of such authority. According to the Associated Press, critics challenging this law argue that it is designed to protect Benjamin Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption, allowing him to remain in power even if convicted in this case. Netanyahu's plan for judicial reforms has sparked widespread protests in Israel. Critics oppose various aspects of Netanyahu's proposals for these judicial changes, and Thursday's hearing only pertains to one part of the judicial changes proposed by Netanyahu's coalition government. Protesters argue that these changes undermine the independence of Israel's judicial system and ultimately democracy in the country. Israel has been witnessing a confrontation between opponents and supporters of this coalition government's action for several months. Nevertheless, Benjamin Netanyahu continues to push forward with the judicial system changes despite widespread protests.