The Israeli Parliament has approved a controversial law that increases government control over judicial appointments. According to The Times of Israel, the contentious bill, which reduces the influence of high judiciary members in appointments and transfers this authority to government control, was passed with 67 votes in favor. Under the approved law, the 9-member committee responsible for judicial appointments is expected to have two legal experts—one selected by the government and one by the opposition. These appointed members from politics also have the power to veto judicial appointments. Criticisms from the opposition and legal experts regarding the approved law, which will come into effect in the next term, suggest that it will politicize judicial appointments.

Following the approval of the law in Parliament, leader of the opposition party Yair Lapid, along with the Israel Bar Association and civil society organizations, immediately appealed to Israel’s Supreme Court to cancel the law. The opposition submitted a record number of 71,000 objections to the bill being discussed in the Israeli Parliament. Due to these objections, the sessions held for the bill’s approval lasted 18 hours in Parliament. Opposing lawmakers boycotted the final round of voting on the controversial judicial regulation, walking out of the chamber.

In Israel’s parliament, a total of three sessions are held for the approval of a law, with the first round of voting in the 120-seat parliament requiring at least 61 votes. Throughout 2023, while Netanyahu was in power until Hamas’ surprise attack on October 7, 2023, the government’s controversial judicial regulation was the top agenda item. Netanyahu’s government aimed to limit the powers of the attorney general and the Supreme Court over the executive branch and ensure the government’s influence in judicial appointments through a controversial “judicial package”. The year saw significant protests such as street movements, civil disobedience actions, strikes, divisions in the military, and objections from the business sector. Following the start of Gaza attacks on October 7, 2023, the controversial judicial regulation was postponed. The Israeli Supreme Court had overturned some laws passed by the Parliament in January 2024, stating they were inconsistent with Israel’s fundamental constitutional laws. Netanyahu’s government recently reignited efforts for the contentious judicial regulation.