Israel approves part of judicial reform; Netanyahu out of hospital

On the same day Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was released from the hospital after an emergency heart procedure, Israel’s government approved a key portion of his judicial reform plan. The vote on Monday, July 24, was 64-0 after opposing lawmakers stormed out of the chamber.

The portion of the plan that was approved prevents judges from striking down government decisions on the basis that they are “unreasonable.” Prime Minister Netanyahu and his allies said other reforms, which include changing the way judges are selected, are needed to curb the powers of unelected judges.

Widespread protests in opposition to the judicial reform plan have been ongoing in Israel since Netanyahu announced the plan. Demonstrators blocked a road leading up to the parliament Monday, with big mall chains and some gas stations shutting their doors in protest.

More mass protests are expected after Monday’s vote. The Movement for Quality Government, a civil society group, announced it would challenge the new law in Israel’s Supreme Court.

“Today is a sad day. A day of the destruction of the Temple. A day of free hate,” Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said. “I look at the coalition celebrating and ask, what are you celebrating? That you are dismantling the Jewish state we have? That people who have served together in the reserves for thirty years cancel the annual meeting because they know it will end badly? This extreme government is hugging and posing to celebrate the moment they made it so that we are no longer brotherly people. Celebrating the moment when they managed to throw into the dustbin from history everything that connects us.”

The judicial reform vote in Israel came just hours after Netanyahu completed his hospital recovery from having a pacemaker implanted. His release ends his second trip to the hospital in as many weeks.

“I would like to thank many of you who prayed for my health and the excellent crew at Sheba Medical Center that is taking care of me. Like you can see I am doing great,” Netanyahu said in a video message on Sunday, July 23. “We are continuing our efforts to complete the legislation and also, with our efforts, to do that [judicial reform] agreement.”