Israel’s Supreme Court struck down a major part of a judicial overhaul plan in a ruling that could reignite the divisions that have plagued the nation since a devastating war broke out last month.
The court’s ruling, which invalidated the appointment of Neomi Rosenblum as the head of the Judiciary Selection Committee, capped a months-long battle between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and the high court over the sweeping reforms.
The ruling comes at a particularly sensitive time for the country, with Israel and Hamas locked in a fresh wave of violence that has so far claimed more than 200 lives in both Israel and Gaza.
The court argued that Rosenblum’s appointment, which was made by Netanyahu’s government earlier this year, was illegal and had violated several legal procedures.
The overhaul was meant to give the government more power over the appointments of judges, which would have granted more control over the judiciary – something that many believed could damage the system’s independence.
Netanyahu has defended the reforms as necessary to replace an outdated system that still relies on patronage and nepotism. However, critics argue that the measures were largely a power grab and would have allowed Netanyahu to appoint more judges sympathetic to his party’s views.
The Supreme Court ruling effectively kills the reforms, which had recently become a major point of contention between Israel and the international community. Several countries, including the United States, had critical of the reforms, warning that they could undermine the judicial system and lead to stifling of dissent.
The court ruling has been hailed as a major victory for judicial independence, and is likely to be used as a rallying point for both Netanyahu’s opponents and those who fear the erosion of Israel’s democratic values.
At the same time, it could also open up a whole new set of divisions as the war continues to rage on with no end in sight.