JERUSALEM: In a significant development, the Israeli parliament granted initial approval on Tuesday to a contentious bill aimed at curbing the powers of the Supreme Court. The bill is part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's planned overhaul of the judiciary, a move that has stirred up unrest in Israeli society and triggered massive nationwide demonstrations since its announcement in January, according to Xinhua news agency.
The bill passed the first of three required readings during an overnight session between Monday and Tuesday, putting it on track to become law. All 64 lawmakers from the far-right coalition government voted in favor of the bill, while 56 lawmakers opposed it.
As the results were announced in the plenum, opposition lawmakers erupted in shouts of "Shame! Shame!".
Before the vote, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Knesset building to stage rallies. A separate group managed to enter the building but was later forcibly removed.
The bill, proposed by Netanyahu's far-right government after its inauguration in late December 2022, contains a key provision that would limit the Supreme Court's ability to overturn government decisions based on "reasonability".
This provision is at the heart of the controversial overhaul, which aims to reduce the influence of the Supreme Court. Critics argue that the reform will undermine the rule of law, while Netanyahu maintains that it is necessary to rein in the court's activist tendencies.
Leaders of the grassroots movement opposing the overhaul, including prominent legal experts, economists, hi-tech entrepreneurs, and former senior security officials, have announced plans for a "Disruption Day" on Tuesday.
As part of this protest, demonstrations are taking place across the country, with major highways, including those leading to Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport, being blocked.
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