What Are Netanyahu's 'Judicial Reforms,' Which Have Sparked Hundreds Of Protests In Israel?

However, under the current legislation, the panel would be increased to 11 members, and each appointment would require only a simple majority of six votes to be approved.

Parliamentarians and Cabinet ministers would be raised to three each, and attorneys would be replaced by two "public personalities," only one of whom would be a lawyer.

With 7 of the panel members belonging to or associated with the ruling coalition, the government could be assured of an automatic majority.

While the proposed rule change will make it simpler to approve a judge's nomination, removing those on the bench will be far more difficult because it will take at least 9 votes from what critics call a 'skewed' panel.

To overturn essential laws - Israel's quasi-constitution - passed by parliament, the legislation would require a unanimous judgment by the Supreme Court.

It would also eliminate "reasonability" as a basis of review for Supreme Court verdicts against government officials.

'Regime change, not legislative 

improvements,' 

Critics argue that the amendments are intended to strengthen the government's control over the Supreme Court, thus undermining the country's democratic institutions.

"This is not a case of legal reform. "It is a fundamental regime shift," Yair Lapid tweeted on Sunday after details of the planned law were leaked to Israeli media.

Proponents of the change, on the other hand, accuse the Supreme Court of overreach.

"I am advocating for a cooling of public dialogue," Netanyahu said in televised remarks.

"Respect for civil rights is the essence of democracy, beyond the separation of powers and, of course, majority rule."

According to draft legislation, Netanyahu intends to reshuffle the group that selects Supreme Court justices.

Thousands of protestors went into the streets of three major Israeli cities in the cold winter weather to oppose Prime Minister Netanyahu's judicial reform plan. Those opposed the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the country's Attorney General.

The appointment of new judges to Israel's Supreme Court 

Netanyahu intends to reorganize the body that selects Supreme Court justices, according to proposed legislation released. The panel now consists of nine members: three supreme court judges, two cabinet ministers, two legislators, and two lawyers. A 7-2 vote is required to ratify a judge's appointment to the Supreme Court under a compromise agreement.