March 2023
Israel’s Judicial Reckoning
By Evelyn GordonIsrael's court is abnormally powerful and has caused half the nation to lose faith in its government. Reform will help, as long as it doesn't cause the other half to do the same.
Anyone reading the press out of Israel these days would probably conclude that the country will soon cease being a democracy.
In January 2023, less than a month after taking office, Israel’s government unveiled a sweeping package of reforms to reduce the power of the nation’s Supreme Court, on the grounds that the court has undermined democracy by encroaching on traditional executive and legislative functions. The opposition, claiming that the reforms, not the court, are the true threat to democracy, responded almost immediately with massive protests. As the weeks have passed, the protests have intensified and spread beyond traditional opposition circles, and Israel has begun descending into chaos.
Where did this issue come from? Who is right? And what should Israel do now?
Subscribe to Continue Reading
Get the best Jewish ideas and conversations. Subscribe to Tikvah Ideas All Access for $12/month
Login or Subscribe
