"Democracy crumbling' - protesters slam Netanyahu's plan to reform Israel's top court, minister appointment

Record ID: 1705306

  • Title: "Democracy crumbling' - protesters slam Netanyahu's plan to reform Israel's top court, minister appointment
  • Date: 5th January 2023
  • Summary: JERUSALEM (JANUARY 5, 2023) (REUTERS) KNESSET MEMBER AVRAHAM BETZALEL OF DERI'S SHAS PARTY TALKING TO JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) KNESSET MEMBER AVRAHAM BETZALEL OF DERI'S SHAS PARTY, SAYING; "I came here on behalf of 400,000 voters, who we are here to represent like we do at Knesset. We came here today to represent them, their statement, the fact that they went on election day, two months ago, with their heads held high to (vote) for one thing they understood and wanted, that was their wish, that Aryeh Deri will serve in the right-wing government, that a right-wing government will be formed and that he will serve as a senior minister in this government. Indeed, that is what happened, God willing, and he was elected both by the Knesset and the prime minister, the government and the ministers were sworn-in, and therefore I think this day is unnecessary for all of us." (SOUNDBITE) (English) LAWYER ELIAD SHRAGA, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MOVEMENT FOR QUALITY GOVERNMENT IN ISRAEL, SAYING: "Till now it looks good. Until the end of the day, I believe, I hope that they will abolish the law."
  • Embargoed: 19th January 2023 12:57
  • Keywords: Aryeh Deri Israel Justice Minister Yariv Levin Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Supreme Court judicial system law protest
  • Location: JERUSALEM
  • City: JERUSALEM
  • Country: Israel
  • Topics: Lawmaking,Middle East,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA003043704012023RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: About 1,000 Israeli protesters staged a demonstration in Jerusalem on Thursday (January 5) outside the Supreme Court, which was hearing an appeal against the appointment of ultra-Orthodox leader Aryeh Deri as cabinet minister despite his conviction for tax fraud.
    Deri, 63, an ultra-Orthodox rabbi, is the veteran leader of Shas, which draws support from religious Jews of Middle Eastern descent.
    His appointment to the new Netanyahu government has been challenged in Israel's Supreme Court given his conviction for tax fraud - without prison time - last year.
    In 1999, Deri was sentenced to three years in jail for taking bribes.
    He returned to politics in 2012.
    He now serves as interior and health minister and is due to rotate to finance in two years.
    It comes as Israel new hard-right government seeks reforms to the judiciary to limit its influence on government policy and give politicians a bigger role in picking top judges, alarming opponents who fear it will hurt democracy and minority rights.
    Justice Minister Yariv Levin unveiled his plan on Wednesday (January 4), describing it as a restoration of balance between the legislative, executive and judiciary.
    It was greeted with delight by his partners in the nationalist-religious government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who have long accused the court of overreach and the bench of elitism.
    "Democracy is crumbling in front of our eyes," said one protester, 48-year-old physician Ofer Havakuk.
    Israelis opposed to the reforms fear for the country's democratic health, defending the court as a bulwark for minority rights.
    (Production: Dedi Hayun, Ilan Rosenberg, Mustafa Abu Ganeyeh, Lee Marzel)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2023. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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