JERUSALEM, Israel’s Supreme Court delivered a significant ruling on Monday, invalidating a contentious law proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing government. The law, part of a broader judicial overhaul, had triggered nationwide protests and heightened concerns about the nation’s democratic principles, both domestically and among Western allies.
The legislation, a key element of Netanyahu’s judicial reform alongside his coalition of religious and nationalist partners, aimed to curtail some of the Supreme Court’s authority. The court had previously been a target of criticism from the prime minister and his allies.
The new law sought to limit the Supreme Court’s ability to annul government and ministers’ decisions by eliminating its power to void choices considered “unreasonable.” In a decisive move, eight out of the 15 justices voted in favor of nullifying the law, marking a significant moment in Israel’s legal and political landscape.
Netanyahu’s Likud party expressed disappointment, labeling the decision as unfortunate and asserting opposition to “the will of the people for unity, especially during wartime.” In contrast, opposition lawmakers welcomed the court’s ruling.
The Supreme Court, in a summary of its decision, highlighted that the majority of judges chose to strike down the law due to the perceived threat it posed to Israel’s democratic foundations.
