Israelis rally near top court on eve of legal reform hearing

JERUSALEM: Thousands of Israelis demonstrated on Monday in Jerusalem to denounce the hard-right government’s judicial overhaul ahead of a Supreme Court hearing on a key component of the reform package.

“Democracy! Democracy!” chanted the protesters in front of the Supreme Court, waving Israeli flags.

Michael Telias, a 42-year-old professor, said “we are here to try and stop this corrupted government’s attempts to transform Israel, a liberal democracy, into a fascist regime”.

A full 15-judge panel of the country’s top court is due to hear petitions on Tuesday against the first major part of the government’s reforms to have become law.

The parliament in July voted to limit the so-called “reasonableness clause” used by the Supreme Court to review and sometimes overturn government decisions.

“We hope the Supreme Court will reject this proposal, which has no aim but to restrict its power,” said Telias.

Other proposals advanced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government include giving politicians more power over the appointment of judges.

Netanyahu’s administration, a coalition between his Likud party and extreme-right and ultra-Orthodox Jewish allies, argues that the legal changes are needed to rebalance powers between politicians and the judiciary.

Since the government unveiled the plans in January, opponents have rallied weekly in Tel Aviv and other cities across Israel, warning of a slide to authoritarianism.

Israeli media have reported some moves toward a compromise between the government and the opposition, while Netanyahu said Monday he aimed to “reach a national consensus to restore the balance of power” between authorities.

Earlier, firebrand National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, of the far-right Jewish Power party, said he opposed any “surrender”.