The government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is proceeding with a controversial plan to overhaul the country's judicial system despite weeks of protests.
Last week, ~100,000 people attended opposition-led protests against the reforms outside of the Knesset, Israeli's parliament, in what was the largest protest in Jerusalem in years.
- The planned reforms would weaken Israel's judiciary, and come after Netanyahu's conservative government complained that judges have too much power over the legislative process.
- On Monday, the Knesset is set to vote on a rule that would give lawmakers the power to appoint new judges. As of now, judges are appointed by a committee of politicians, judges, and lawyers.
- Israel's attorney general barred Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption charges, from any involvement in the reform process.
- The process is instead being led by his government's justice minister and deputy prime minister, long-time Netanyahu ally Yariv Levin.
- Last month, former Israeli Defense Minister and opposition leader Benny Gantz said that the reforms were akin to a coup d'etat and that they could lead to a "civil war."
- Isaac Herzog, Israel's president, said earlier this month that Netanyahu's government should delay the passage of the legislation and compromise with the opposition on the reforms.
