Devendra Kumar
The Israeli government’s decision to weaken the powers of the country’s Supreme Court has sparked widespread protests and unrest, with thousands of doctors walking out of work, union leaders threatening general strikes, and senior judges rushing back to Jerusalem to deal with the crisis. The law, passed by the prime minister’s majority coalition in parliament, allows the government to override the court’s decisions and dismantles the court’s power to review laws and government actions.
Demonstrations took place across the country, with hundreds of thousands of people taking to the streets in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Protesters blocked traffic, burned tyres, and waved national flags, while police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowds. At least 40 people were arrested, and 10 officers were injured.
The Israeli Medical Association announced a mass strike, with only emergency and critical care services available, while the country’s largest union, Histadrut, vowed to plan a nationwide general strike. Many hi-tech business leaders are considering relocating their operations, and thousands of officers in the military reserves have refused to report for duty.
The timing of the law’s passing could not have been more dramatic, coming just hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was released from the hospital where he had been treated for a pacemaker implant. Netanyahu has promised an eventual compromise, but opponents say they will not give up the fight.
The country is now hurtling into uncharted territory, with the potential for further social and political unrest. The overhaul also threatens to strain ties with the Biden administration, jeopardize new alliances with Arab states, and deepen the conflict with Palestinians.
As one protester, Yossi Nissimov, said, “I think this country is going to either split into two countries or be finished altogether.” The Supreme Court justices, who were on a trip abroad, cut their trip short to return to Jerusalem to deal with the crisis, and the court may issue a ruling that could lead to a constitutional crisis.
The law has been met with fierce resistance from Israeli citizens, who see it as an attack on democratic institutions and a threat to the country’s only check on majority rule. Support for the overhaul comes largely from the country’s poorer, more religious, and rural areas, while opponents are largely from the secular middle class.
As the crisis unfolds, credit rating company Moody’s warned of “significant risk” if divisions within the country continue, with negative consequences for Israel’s economy and security situation. The Israeli government has downplayed the concerns, but the country is bracing itself for what may be a long and difficult period of unrest and uncertainty.