In brief
On March 27, 2025, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition in Israel enacted contentious legislation that consolidates political power in judicial appointments, a move reminiscent of pre-war tensions with Hamas. Following an all-night debate, the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament, approved two laws allowing politicians greater authority in selecting judges, including those on the Supreme Court. The decision marks the revival of Netanyahu's two-year-long effort to enhance governmental control over the judiciary, a process interrupted during the recent conflict with Hamas that escalated in October 2023.
Despite backlash, the latest laws, though less comprehensive than original proposals, risk reigniting public outrage similar to earlier civil unrest. Protests emerged outside the Knesset, where demonstrators, while expressing opposition to the judicial changes, also called for urgent negotiations with Hamas to address the ongoing hostage crisis. Netanyahu defended the legislation, asserting it as crucial for reforming a so-called "deep state" that remains unelected, drawing parallels to rhetoric used by former U.S. President Donald Trump. As tensions both domestically and with Hamas continue to mount, the future of Israeli democracy hangs in the balance.
