Knesset passes controversial judicial reform law in overnight voting marathon

Now, though, the coalition is seeking to implement several of its controversial proposals, while also attempting to dismiss the Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara, accusing her of politicising her role and seeking to thwart the government’s policies.

In that context, last night’s debate saw tempers boil over in the Knesset chamber, with opposition politicians accusing the Prime Minister of attempting to consolidate his position both politically and legally at the expense of democracy.

An unprecedented 71,023 objections were filed in opposition to the bill, with each struck down in turn as voting stretched late into the night.

National Unity chairman Benny Gantz invoked former PM Menachem Begem saying: “Democracies fall or die slowly when they suffer from a malignant disease called the tyranny of the majority...Thus, a government becomes a regime, and the prime minister becomes a ruler.”

Likewise, a joint statement from the opposition leadership said: “The government of Israel has just approved a law with one goal — to ensure that judges become subject to the will of politicians.

"This is happening while 59 hostages are still held in Gaza. Instead of focusing all efforts on bringing them home and healing the divisions in the nation, this government is once again engaging in the very legislation that divided the public before October 7.

"The government has learned nothing from the disaster. It continues to undermine national resilience, deepen division, and ignore its real tasks: security, the economy and unity.

The opposition has filed a motion for an injunction with the Supreme Court and pledged to repeal the law, set to take effect after the next election, if they are voted in, while crowds of protestors gathered outside the parliament to demonstrate against what they called an “attack on democracy”.

However, ministers remained steadfast in their support for the bill, ultimately voting it through by a margin of 67-1 after opposition parties boycotted the final vote.

Yariv Levin, the Justice Minister, claimed that the new law is a vital step against the judiciary, which he accused of trying to “abolish the Knesset” through legal interference.

He added: “It has taken upon itself the authority to annul basic laws, something unimaginable in any democracy in the world.

"But our Supreme Court was not content with trampling on the Knesset; it has also placed itself above the government.

"[This law is] putting an end to the friend-brings-friend system used in appointments, ending the conflict of interest that stemmed from the membership of the Bar Association representatives on the committee, and at the same time providing a full response to the concerns raised by opponents of the reform, in particular the government and coalition’s takeover of the judicial selection procedures.”

Netanyahu, meanwhile, made a defiant speech in the chamber following the passage of the bill, in which he launched an attack on the so-called “deep state” – a “small coterie of officials” he has alleged is biased against the Israeli right and works against the elected government.

He told MKs: “Israel has been and will remain a democracy.

"Democracy isn’t in danger; the rule of bureaucrats is in danger. The deep state is in danger.

"In a democracy the people are sovereign, and the people demand that its free vote in the polling booths be practically carried out in decisions, appointments, policies.”

The reform comes as the PM faces growing criticism from hostage families over the decision to return to the war in Gaza, as well as a schedule of repeatedly delayed hearings related to the criminal cases brought against him on charges including fraud and accepting bribes.

However, if the full raft of proposed judicial reforms are passed, it could force prosecutors to drop any charges against him until the end of his term in office.