Israeli media reported that the Supreme Court held a heated hearing on Sunday on a bill aimed at changing the judicial selection committee, amid warnings that the move could politicise the judiciary.
The bill was proposed by Israeli Justice Minister Yariv Levin in January 2023, with the backing of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, as part of a wider judicial reform plan.
According to Israel’s official public broadcaster KAN, the court held a lengthy session to consider petitions filed against the proposed legislation.
The broadcaster described the bill as one of the key elements of the judicial reform programme led by Levin, which has sparked deep political and legal divisions in Israel, particularly since 2023.
Several Supreme Court judges voiced concern over the potential impact of the amendment on judicial independence. They warned that giving political forces a greater role in selecting judges could alter the nature of the judicial system and weaken its independence.
The judges also cautioned that the proposed system could effectively allow Supreme Court judges to be appointed on political or ideological grounds rather than solely on professional merit.
Supreme Court President Isaac Amit said that “Israel stands before a change in its system of government.”
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