The Knesset on Monday passed the contested changes sought by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the judiciary as last-gasp talks continued to ease one of the country's worst political crises set off by his plans. After a long vote that included many attempts by the Opposition to derail the motion, the first bill of the judicial reform was enacted just before 4 p.m. thanks to the Coalition's 64-seat majority in the 120-seat Knesset, enacting what is called the "reasonableness standard" amendment to Basic Law: Judgement. The amendment, which will take effect within days after is gets an official sign-off by Israel's ceremonial president, prohibits the Supreme Court from striking down executive branch decisions on grounds that they are unreasonable.
The bill passed by a 64-0 vote, the speaker added, after opposition lawmakers abandoned the Knesset plenum in protest.
Soon after the bill passed its final reading, protesters began intensifying their activity, blocking major roads in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Hundreds arrived at Kaplan Street in Tel Aviv – the main venue for the weekly mass demonstrations – and disrupted traffic, including on the Ayalon Highway, which is the main artery running across the city and connecting it to the rest of Israel. In Jerusalem, hundreds blocked parts of Begin Boulevard, which runs from north to south in the capital, as well as other parts of the city. Walls and fences running the length of the street outside the Supreme Court, Prime Minister's Office and parliament were plastered with hundreds of stickers reading "we won't service a dictator," "democracy or rebellion" and "save Israel from Netanyahu." Police tried to clear away the crowds with water cannons spraying skunk-scented water.
As a result of organizers calling for further protests into the night nationwide, the Israel Police announced pre-emptive road closures in main intersections, mostly in Tel Aviv. The main demonstration in Jerusalem began at roughly 5 p.m. from the park just adjacent to the Knesset, led by former security officials and leading figures from the business community. ,
Before the vote, President Isaac Herzog, who called the standoff "a national emergency," was still trying to forge a compromise on the government's judicial plans which have sparked unprecedented nationwide protests, a person familiar with the matter said.
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In the hours leading up to the bill's passage, police used a water cannon to disperse demonstrators opposed to the judicial campaign by Netanyahu's Coalition and officers dragged away protesters who had chained themselves to posts and blocked the road outside parliament.
Video: Defense Minister Gallant tries to strike compromise with the Opposition / Credit: Yehuda Shlezinger
The chances to reach a compromise appeared slim as lawmakers began voting. "You cannot reach agreements that safeguard Israel's democracy with this government," Opposition Leader Yair Lapid told Israeli television channels at the Knesset minutes before the hours-long vote began.
With banks and businesses joining in the protest, pressure mounted on Netanyahu, who was released from the hospital on Monday morning after a two-night stay during which he was fitted with a pacemaker.
Netanyahu has been urged by Washington on the one side to reach a compromise with the Opposition, while his hard-line Coalition partners are pushing for legislation to go ahead with more judicial changes to follow.
The crisis has spread to the military, with protest leaders saying thousands of volunteer reservists would not report for duty if the government continues with the plans and former top brass warning that Israel's war-readiness could be at risk.
Nonetheless, commanding a comfortable majority in parliament, Netanyahu's Coalition looked set to win the vote on the bill that limits the Supreme Court's powers to overrule decisions made by governments and ministers.
"We're on our way to a disaster," Lapid told lawmakers during the stormy debate. "If you vote for this bill you will weaken the state of Israel, the people of Israel, and the Israel Defence Forces."
It would be the first change written into law from a package critics fear aims to curb judicial independence, but which Netanyahu – who is on trial on corruption charges he denies - insists are needed for balance among branches of government.
Video: Coalition members celebrate passage of the judicial reform bill / Credit: Yehuda Shlezinger
Justice Minister Yariv Levin who has been driving the changes defended the bill, which would amend a law enabling the Supreme Court to void decisions it deems "unreasonable". "There's no reason to fear this amendment. There are many reasons to see it as an important step toward restoring the balance between the branches of government as respecting voters' choice," said Levin.
Netanyahu's coalition has been determined to push back against what it describes as overreach by a Supreme Court that it says has become too politically interventionist. Critics say Monday's amendment has been rushed through parliament and will open the door to abuses of power by removing one of the few effective checks on the executive's authority in a country without a formal written constitution.
The government announced its judicial plans in January, soon after it was sworn in, stirring concern among allies abroad for Israel's democratic health and denting the economy.
The shekel has weakened by around 8% since.
Israel's two biggest banks said they would allow workers to demonstrate on Monday without losing pay. A forum of some 150 of Israel's largest companies went on strike and Azrieli and Big, two of Israel's largest malls, said stores in their shopping centers would remain closed.
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