In a significant shift for Israel’s judicial system, the Knesset has approved legislation that will fundamentally alter how judges are appointed, effectively transferring control to political entities. The new law, scheduled to take effect following the October 2026 general elections, represents an unprecedented change in the nation’s history regarding judicial selection processes.
The legislation modifies the structure of the nine-member judicial selection committee, which previously included a mix of judges, legislators, and bar association representatives under the justice minister’s oversight. Under the new framework, representatives from the Israeli Bar Association will be replaced by attorneys chosen by both the ruling coalition and opposition parties. Additionally, the law grants politicians veto authority over lower court appointments and eliminates the influence of the three judges who currently participate in Supreme Court appointment decisions.
The bill passed with overwhelming support of 67-1, though this result came after opposition members chose to boycott the vote entirely. Justice Minister Yariv Levin has indicated that no new judicial appointments will be made until the law’s implementation, leaving the Supreme Court operating with just 11 justices instead of its full complement of 15.
The timing of this legislative change has drawn criticism from opposition leaders, who pointed out that 59 hostages remain captive in Gaza. Critics argue that the government should prioritize hostage recovery and national healing rather than pursuing controversial judicial reforms that have historically divided the public.
Former war cabinet member and National Unity party chairman Benny Gantz expressed serious concerns before the vote, warning of a “dangerous direction” for the nation. The legislation has sparked immediate legal challenges, with opposition parties and government watchdogs filing multiple petitions to the High Court of Justice. Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid Party characterized the law as not merely an amendment but the “eradication of an entire system.”
The legislation’s passage prompted thousands of Israeli citizens to gather in protest outside the Knesset. This follows a pattern of public resistance to judicial reforms, as Netanyahu’s government had previously attempted to push through similar measures before October 2023, resulting in widespread demonstrations across the country.
This development comes in the wake of a January 1, 2024 Supreme Court decision that struck down earlier legislation from July 2023, which had attempted to remove the court’s “reasonableness clause” – its power to overturn government decisions deemed unreasonable.
Netanyahu’s Likud party expressed disappointment with that ruling, arguing it contradicted “the will of the people for unity, especially during wartime.”
The current situation is particularly notable given Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ongoing corruption trial. Since his 2019 indictment, Netanyahu has consistently criticized the justice system, claiming it shows bias against him. The committee affected by this new legislation is currently handling significant cases, including petitions challenging Netanyahu’s dismissal of Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and the reappointment of Itamar Ben Gvir as national security minister.
The implementation of this law marks a transformative moment in Israel’s judicial history, establishing for the first time a system where political figures will have dominant control over judicial appointments, fundamentally altering the balance of power between the country’s political and judicial branches.