Israeli parliament passes law expanding political control of judicial appointments

Israel approves budget, giving Netanyahu political respite

Israel’s parliament approved the state budget for this year, boosting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after days of market turmoil related to the conflict in Gaza and the government trying to fire top officials. A majority of 66 members of the Knesset signed off on the bill versus 52 who objected. If the budget had failed to pass, the government would have collapsed under Israeli law. The approval — which had looked in doubt at times this year…

Israeli Lawmakers Call on Australian Counterparts to Reject Two-State Solution

Australian Member of Parliament Andrew Wallace. Photo: Screenshot A group of Israeli politicians has called on Australian Members of Parliament to reject their country’s support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict ahead of the upcoming Australian federal election. In a letter signed by eight members from both governing coalition and opposition parties in the Knesset (Israeli parliament), lawmakers raised concerns about t…

A new law gives politics more participation in the appointment of judges. Critics of the government see the rule of law in danger. They exaggerate massively.

The Knesset has adopted a law that strengthens the influence of the executive in the process of appointing judges. This law is incorporated into the work of the rule of law and the principle of separation of powers begun two years ago by the government of Benyamin Netanyahu.

Judges cannot act through economic or political slogans, “less now that they will be elected by the citizenry,” said Yasmín Esquivel Mossa, Minister of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN). By participating as a special guest in the event “Lawyers 2025”, which recognizes leadership in the legal sphere, the minister pointed out that judicial reform has generated a lot of concern, perhaps the main concern for impartiality in the rule …

Israeli parliament passes law giving politicians greater say on judges’ selection

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – The Israeli parliament on Thursday approved final readings of a bill giving politicians a greater say in selecting judges, one of a series of issues that have fuelled a wave of protests against the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The bill, changing the make-up of a nine-member Judges Selection Committee, removes members chosen by the Israel Bar Association and replaces them with representatives chosen by th…