Israel’s Ministers push a political overhaul of the judiciary, with catastrophic consequences looming

Israeli politics is teetering on the brink of disaster, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s close allies prepare to enact a radical overhaul of the country’s judiciary. Justice Minister Yariv Levin, once confident about his proposed changes to the Judicial Appointments Committee, now faces a political quagmire. His original plan to shift the committee’s composition into a purely political body has sparked growing unease, particularly among Israel’s ultra-Orthodox parties.

Just a few weeks ago, Levin was full of optimism. In private conversations, he spoke with certainty about the imminent success of the law that would hand political leaders more control over judicial appointments. “I will provide the Haredim,” he confidently declared, convinced that the ultra-Orthodox factions would support the overhaul. But reality has quickly set in. Members of these influential groups have made it clear that they won’t back Levin’s ambitious reforms without first securing crucial exemptions, including one that would protect the ultra-Orthodox from mandatory military service.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. Levin’s proposal, which aims to politicise judicial appointments, threatens to destabilise Israel’s already fragile political landscape. Critics argue that such a move would compromise the independence of the judiciary, turning it into a mere puppet of the political establishment. This concern is only amplified by Levin’s insistence that the judicial system be shaped to align with the government’s conservative agenda.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s other allies, including Defence Minister Israel Katz, are stirring up further controversies. Katz has become notorious for his handling of the ongoing draft-evasion crisis, stoking divisions within the government by positioning himself as a “defence troll.” His comments on military service and draft exemptions are fuelling tensions, as military service remains a highly sensitive issue in Israeli society.

As the political machinations unfold, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is quietly calculating his own political advantage. His stance on Israel’s territorial disputes is clear: the price of a life, he argues, is not worth the price of the territories. This controversial perspective has enraged many, who see it as a dangerous simplification of complex moral and geopolitical issues. Smotrich’s position is not just a policy choice but a direct challenge to the ethical fabric of the Israeli government.

Behind these orchestrations lies Netanyahu’s leadership style – a manoeuvring of allies and a careful balancing act to maintain control. The Likud party, once a stronghold of Israeli politics, is now caught in a race to the bottom, pandering to the most extreme elements of society in order to retain power. This descent into populism has made many question the future of the nation’s political and legal institutions.

Netanyahu’s political puppeteers are betting the country’s stability on a plan that could very well lead to disaster. As they push forward with their dangerous agenda, Israel finds itself on the edge, caught between political gamesmanship and the very real consequences of undermining its democratic institutions.