In detail, the judicial changes that Israel’s Parliament approved yesterday sound like something liberals in the US and democracy advocates around the world could support.
Israel reduced the power of its Supreme Court judges, who until now could use the vague standard of “reasonableness” to overturn policies enacted by government ministers. In the future, democratically elected leaders will have more power, and unelected judges will have less. Conceptually, the policy is not that different from the changes many Democrats would like to implement in this country.
But the reaction of political progressives, moderates and even some conservatives—in Israel and elsewhere—has been, on the other hand, extremely alarming. And this alarm stems from the concern among many observers that Israel is using the mechanics of democracy to transform itself into an anti-democratic country.
The government headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (known as Bibi) is the most right-wing in the country’s 75-year history, many observers say. Freed from judicial oversight, he will have the ability to push Israel further toward becoming a religiously conservative country. In the process, the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians could worsen.
Among the fears of Netanyahu’s critics:
Israel can build many more settlements in the West Bank, even on privately owned Palestinian land, making long-term peace impossible.
Ultra-Orthodox Jews who engage in religious studies may find it easier to avoid military service, creating a two-tiered society even among Israelis.
Netanyahu may be able to appoint corrupt officials to top positions. The showdown with the Supreme Court stems in part from its decision to block Netanyahu’s appointment of Aryeh Deri, an ally who had been convicted of accepting bribes, as a minister.
Netanyahu, facing his own corruption trial, may replace the attorney general now that the Supreme Court has been defended. Netanyahu has denied wrongdoing and said he has no plans to replace the attorney general.
Thousands of Israeli military reservists may follow through on their threats to abstain from training and service because of the review, which undermines national security.
Bibi’s turn
As our colleague Isabel Kershner, who lives in Jerusalem, told us: “The basic division is between the more liberal and largely secular Israelis who want a pluralistic country with a tolerant and open society and the religiously conservative and right-wing forces that make up the current Bibi government.”
The Supreme Court has been a particularly important body because Israel does not have a formal constitution. In other countries, a constitution can limit the powers of an elected government, including attempts to manipulate the political system to allow leaders to stay in power. In Israel, the court played this restrictive role.
A paradox of judicial review is that it strengthens Netanyahu’s government and is a sign of his own political weakness. He opposed this revision for a long time, while some far-right and religious parties supported it. But now he needs these parties to stay in power, and he may have to stay in power to stay out of jail.
“He looks like a weak prime minister who is led by the hardliners in his party and in his coalition,” Isabel said. A biographer of Netanyahu said David Remnick of The New Yorker that mass protests and military disobedience suggest that Netanyahu has become Israel’s weakest prime minister.
Of course, the Israeli political center and left may be even weaker, which is why Netanyahu remains in power.
More from Israel
Chaotic fun: At a monthly party in New York, guests bring a Tinder match they’ve never met. What could go wrong?
“The younger version of Goop”: Sporty & Rich started as an Instagram account. He is about to open a store in New York.
Ick factor: It tastes like any other beer, but it’s made with sewage.
Lives lived: Reeves Callaway built high-performance automobiles for deep-pocketed customers that challenged Porsche and Ferrari, achieving speeds of 250 miles per hour. Callaway died at age 75.
WOMEN’S WORLD CUP
Linda Caicedo, the 18-year-old who scored the winning goal in Colombia’s 2-0 win over South Korea, he is in his third World Cup in a year after playing the under-20 and under-17 tournaments.
The Philippines won their first World Cup match with their first World Cup goal, defeating co-hosts New Zealand 1-0.
Three points for a win and one for a draw: that’s how teams can progress to the round of 16.
OTHER SPORTS NEWS
Install: Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers hasn’t thrown a pass yet, but he’s soaking up the New York culture.
Another Game Penalty: A Denver Broncos defensive tackle, Eyioma Uwazurike, was suspended indefinitely to bet on NFL games, joining a succession of players penalized this offseason for violating the league’s betting policy.
ARTS AND IDEAS
A family of shark hunters: “The Shark Is Broken,” a comedy based on the troubled production of the 1975 film “Jaws,” hits Broadway next month. The one-act play focuses on the fights of the film’s stars, particularly Robert Shaw, the acclaimed British actor who played shark hunter Quint. If the Quint on stage seems like a dead ringer for the original, it’s for good reason: Shaw’s son Ian plays him.
