Israel removes supreme court power to oppose government action with law criticised as threat to democracy

In the evening, angry protests erupted in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa and other locations. Police used foul smelling skunk water to disperse activists in Jerusalem who blocked the main Begin highway that runs through the city. “The dictatorial law passed. Head out to the streets! Israel will not be a dictatorship,” read a statement circulated by the protest movement.

Following the vote, opposition leader Yair Lapid said the opposition would file a petition against the legislation with the supreme court. “We will not give up, we will not turn into Hungary and Poland,” he said. “It is a sad day. A day of Knesset destruction. A day of gratuitous hatred.” Tel Aviv’s main share indices tumbled more than 2.5 per cent after the vote in the Knesset and the shekel extended losses against the dollar to 1.2 per cent.

The Biden administration considered it “unfortunate” that the Knesset ratified part of Mr Netanyahu’s contested judicial reform plan, a White House spokesperson said. “We believe that for major democratic changes you need to work for consensus,” the US official said. “We urge Israeli leaders to work toward a consensus-based approach through political dialogue.”

The judicial overhaul has torn Israel in two, bringing hundreds of thousands of people from both sides of the divide onto the streets. Monday’s vote doesn’t mark the end to the chaos: it may be just the beginning.

Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Israel MPs approve controversial judicial reforms in face of protestsIsrael's parliament has approved a key clause of a controversial judicial reform plan that aims to curb the powers of the Supreme Court in striking down government decisions
Source: thejournal_ie - 🏆 32. / 50 Read more »

Carlow entrepreneur Illann Power fails to purge contempt order in Florida bankruptcy caseThe businessman previously told the Business Post that he has assets in a family trust that was valued at ‘an eight-figure sum’
Source: businessposthq - 🏆 8. / 71 Read more »

Explainer: Far-right eyes first return to power in Spain since death of FrancoEverything you need to know about Spain’s general election and what it could mean for Europe
Source: businessposthq - 🏆 8. / 71 Read more »

Nicky English: Power to beat precision as Limerick strike out for historyKilkenny’s greater shooting efficiency may struggle for a platform against the champions’ middle third
Source: IrishTimesSport - 🏆 2. / 99 Read more »

Greta Thunberg goes on trial today over Swedish climate protestThunberg is due to appear before the court in Malmo later this morning.
Source: thejournal_ie - 🏆 32. / 50 Read more »

Supreme Court to rule on effect of decision on Patrick Quirke murder convictionLawyers for Quirke asked court to order his retrial for murder of DJ Bobby Ryan
Source: IrishTimes - 🏆 3. / 98 Read more »