In Israel, constitutional reform committee advances bill for first reading in parliament as president urges compromise

Tens of thousands of flag-waving Israelis converged on the nation’s parliament [13 February], amid warnings that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to weaken the judiciary risks plunging the country into a “social collapse.” [...] Despite the protest – and an impassioned plea from President Isaac Herzog on [12 February] not to start the legislative process – the government began introducing the reform bill in parliament, the Knesset, on [13 February] as planned. Herzog warned that Israel is “on the brink of constitutional and social collapse,” and possibly faces “a violent collision.” Chaotic scenes unfolded within the Knesset’s Constitution, Law and Justice Committee meeting on the bill before the protest even got underway, as opposition members of parliament chanted “shame.” [...] The bill passed the committee vote and will face a first reading in the full Knesset, likely on [15 February]. Netanyahu’s coalition is seeking the most sweeping overhaul of the Israeli legal system since its founding. The most significant of the changes would allow a simple majority in the Knesset to overturn Supreme Court rulings. The reforms also seek to change the way judges are selected, and remove government ministries’ independent legal advisors, whose opinions are binding. [...] Israeli bills need three readings in the Knesset before becoming law.
Read the full article here: CNN