Within just 10 days, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tried to a ceasefire in Gaza, tried to reject the head of the intelligence agency in Shane Hann, organized a vote without confidence on the public prosecutor, and issued a law to change how senior appointments occurred in the court.

His critics say that the legislation, which was issued last Thursday, will allow Netanyahu to change the courtyard of the court in his favor. Change will come into effect in the following parliamentary term.

The move raised concerns about the independence of the judiciary in Israel and questions about what can be done to stop what appears to be a concerted effort of independence.

The Supreme Court in Israel

This new law changes the formation of the Judicial Selection Committee, which makes it easier for politicians to expand future appointments in the Supreme Court in their favor.

With three of the 15 judges on the highest judicial authority in Israel, the issue of how to set their alternatives take more importance.

The head of the Supreme Court, Esther Hiotiot, retired on October 16, 2023, and the judges, Anat Baron and Ozi Fogman, retired shortly after.

The new law replaces the candidates for the Association of Lawyers in Israel in the Judicial Selection Committee with lawyers nominated by both the ruling coalition and its opposition.

The rest of the committee remains as it is – three judges from the Supreme Court, the Minister of Justice, two members in Parliament (traditionally, Parliament chooses one from the government, one of the opposition) and one minister chosen by the Council of Ministers.

The Israeli public prosecutor, Galle, described this “” “[changing] The method of judicial choice to a way you receive … former political considerations and decisive weight – on the other hand, the place of professional considerations in the judicial election process has weakened to a large extent, even erasing them. “

Baharav-Miara added that the judge’s choice will now be subject to political negotiations and one solutions, allowing personal motives to damage the “political nature of justice at all levels.”

“This last step is just a coup,” Eli Salisburger, a law professor at Haifa University.

“The government is already controlling the legislative body. By controlling the judiciary, it mainly removes the last checks and balances on them and assumes authority without challenge.”

Yesh ATID, the opposition leader’s party, Yair Lapid, and the Civil Rights Association in Israel, the Civil Society Organization, said they have resumed legislation to the Supreme Court.

The government in exchange for the judiciary?

According to Netanyahu and his allies, the Supreme Court prevents them from the age of “the will of the people.”

On Thursday morning, the vote was part of a broader program that was announced for almost instant public protests in January 2023.

Initial proposals included granting Knesateet the authority to abolish the Supreme Court through a simple majority, and prevent the court from reviewing or challenging the basic laws of Israel, and as is the case with the latest law, which increases the role of politicians in appointing the Supreme Court judges.

So far, unlike Thursday’s legislation on the appointment of court judges, progress has been mixed with the proposed changes to the government.

In July 2023, Knesset issued the “Reasonable” law, which depicted the Supreme Court Authority to abolish the government decisions that the rulers consider unidentified.

However, in January of the following year, the Supreme Court announced a unconstitutional “reasonable” law, as it dealt with Netanyahu’s plans.

He and his government argued that the court interventions – including a law that allows the disbursement of the Palestinian territories in 2020 and the abolition of a proposal ban on the Palestinian parties – undermines the will of the government.

By directing the speech of US President Donald Trump, who depends on his sponsorship, the Prime Minister suggested that the judiciary is part of a “deep, left -wing state” trying to frustrate it.

Israeli democracy is not in danger. The deep Israeli state is in danger. pic.twitter.com/a3hzd5ckio

– Benjamin Netanyahu – Benjamin Netanyahu (Netanyahu) March 26, 2025

Personal objections

Netanyahu’s critics – like Hiot, while leaving his position – indicated that his “reforms” seem to be directed towards his personal and political ends.

“Everything with Netanyahu is summarizing in his survival,” Salzbirger said, “Everything with Netanyahu is summarizing”, five to seven years ago when the members of his party suggested, Netanyahu refused the idea, claiming that Israel was a state governed by law.

“Since … the trial of his corruption, he has been looking for any opportunity to get out of difficulty, and if that involves the destruction of the entire legal system, then the matter is that,” he said.

Currently, Prime Minister In the trialIncluding bribery, fraud and confidence, in three cases of corruption.

Prosecutors claim that Netanyahu, before illegal gifts from wealthy businessmen and requested favorable media coverage. Netanyahu denies the charges, claiming that it is of political motives.

In April 2021, in the face of the growing general attention to the conflict of potential interests resulting from his trial, The Supreme Court imposed restrictions On Netanyahu’s powers to oversee law enforcement, judicial appointments and influence any cases that directly affect his legal difficulties.

In January 2024, he was pushed to a law passed as part of the government’s wave of “judicial amendments” in 2023 that would make it difficult to declare Netanyahu inappropriately, saying that it was clear that it was for his personal interest and delayed its implementation until the next parliamentary session.

Hyutut wrote at that time: “The personal affairs of the Prime Minister were not only the motivation to legislate the amendment, but also the dominant justification for its legislation at a time when he was yearned.”

“The promoter wanted the amendment to enter into force immediately and that it applies to the sitting prime minister.”

Israeli anger

The opposition of Netanyahu’s judicial reform was overwhelming with mass protests during almost every stage.

He announced that the reform suspended in March 2023 because of what he said was “a sense of national responsibility.”

At that time, various groups such as legal professionals, civil society organizations, academics, opposition parties and technology workers moved to the streets to condemn reforms, and reached their climax, while the organizers said it was the biggest protests in Israeli history.

Their opposition was the prime minister’s allies in the far right, such as Finance Minister Paisalel Soutrich and National Security Minister Itamar Bin Ghaffir.

The mass protests, along with public criticism by US President Joe Biden, were sufficient to stop, and apparently hindered government plans. When the war launched Israel on Gaza at the end of 2023.

But last week, under the cover of the war, Netanyahu restored his attempts to reform the judiciary.

This time, it seems that Netanyahu and his coalition are not ready to stop their efforts to remove any elements of the judiciary that may slow them down. The current American president’s position on the judiciary is significantly different from his predecessor’s position, so there is no pressure on his part.

The general anger at Netanyahu’s movements did not fade.

While the Supreme Court itself can take action, its powers only allow it to delay the legislation, which means that, given his ongoing parliamentary support, Netanyahu will eventually be able to impose his reforms, as long as he remains in power.

Analysts say this leaves one major way to stop Netanyahu if the Supreme Court can delay it for a sufficient period: a loss for the Prime Minister and his allies in the upcoming elections, which must take place by the end of 2026.