After Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the reform of the justice system will be postponed, a fragile peace is returning to the country, writes the BBC.
On Monday, the 27th of March, Netanyahu announced that he would postpone changes in the legislation to prevent divisions among the people. The Prime Minister made this decision after the dismissal of the Israeli Defense Minister intensified the protests already underway in the country.
Israel’s largest trade union also joined the protests. Services stopped at a large number of institutions and businesses, from the country’s main airport to banks, shops, and even hospitals. The purpose of such concerted actions was to get Netanyahu to abandon the idea of adopting changes in the justice legislation by the end of this week.
Israel’s far-right government wants full control of the commission that appoints judges. The reform
would allow the parliament to challenge the decisions of the Supreme Court, and only a majority vote would be enough.
This in turn means that it would be very difficult for the court to declare the Prime Minister unfit for office. Netanyahu has said such a change would prevent the courts from overstepping their authority, while critics say Netanyahu is looking out for his own skin amid active corruption trials against him.
When he finally officially addressed the nation on Monday night, Netanyahu was quick to find scapegoats. He blamed an «extremist minority» for trying to divide the nation and criticized army reservists who refused to serve in protest against the planned reforms. Netanyahu did not admit his responsibility.
The Prime Minister’s decision will buy him time, but won’t solve the problem.
Protesters want the reforms to be reversed, not delayed. Israel’s political opposition has indicated that it will try to resume dialogue.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has indicated that postponing the reform was the right choice, and he has previously called for the reform to be repealed. White House spokesman John Kirby said the United States was concerned about the situation in Israel, but declined to comment on the plan to delay the reforms.
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