With Israel at War, Netanyahu's Judicial Coup Is Back With a Vengeance

Dahlia Scheindlin / Haaretz

The original judicial overhaul plans may be on hold, but the government has even more dangerous room to extend its powers unchecked and unnoticed. The public is distracted, busy panicking or rallying round the flag

On Wednesday evening, a sensational news item briefly eclipsed the Gaza war: an unprecedented leak of one of Israel's most highly anticipated legal rulings. But first, the Channel 12 news anchor had to remind people what the case was. Back in July, the "reasonability standard" law passed and became the epicenter of the Netanyahu government's searing, divisive judicial overhaul plan. "Remember?" the anchor quipped. The leak says the Supreme Court (sitting as the High Court of Justice) is preparing to strike down the amendment to Israel's Basic Law – a massive setback for the government.

Back in July, the "reasonability standard" law passed and became the epicenter of the Netanyahu government's searing, divisive judicial overhaul plan. "Remember?" the anchor quipped. The leak says the Supreme Court (sitting as the High Court of Justice) is preparing to strike down the amendment to Israel's Basic Law – a massive setback for the government.

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