https://arab.news/jn47b
- Overhaul of Israel鈥檚 judicial system could increase the government鈥檚 sway in choosing judges and set limits on the Supreme Court鈥檚 ability to strike down legislation
GENEVA: The United Nations鈥� human rights chief on Tuesday voiced concern that a proposed overhaul of Israel鈥檚 judicial system would 鈥渄rastically undermine鈥� the ability of the judiciary to uphold human rights and the rule of law.
Israel鈥檚 parliament is pushing ahead with changes promoted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu鈥檚 religious-nationalist government which it says are needed to rein in activist judges who intervene in politics.
The proposals, which have sparked mass protests, could increase the government鈥檚 sway in choosing judges and set limits on the Supreme Court鈥檚 ability to strike down legislation.
鈥淏reaking from decades of settled practice, such a law would drastically undermine the ability of the judiciary to vindicate individual rights and to uphold the rule of law as an effective institutional check on executive and legislative power,鈥� said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk.
His statement added that the changes would create greater political influence over the judicial selection system.
鈥淲e will not accept moral preaching from those who ignore blatant human rights violations in Syria, Iran, the Palestinian Authority, and Gaza, and attack Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East, more than any other country,鈥� said Israel鈥檚 Foreign Minister Eli Cohen in response to Turk鈥檚 comments.
Israel鈥檚 ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Meirav Eilon Shahar, has said a previous statement from Turk showed prejudice.
Austria鈥檚 Turk, who became High Commissioner in October, earlier this month called on Israel to ensure respect of international rights law after his office documented a record 151 killings of Palestinians by security forces last year.