The Israeli parliament passed the humiliating article on Tuesday in the first reading, one of the most contested provisions of the reform of the judicial system, which is dividing the country, according to AFP.

The text was adopted shortly before 03:00 (01:00 GMT) by 61 votes to 52. A second and third reading must be voted on before it becomes law.

The bill, passed at first reading, strengthens the conditions that allow the Supreme Court to declare an ordinary law invalid, and allows Parliament to protect a law from any repeal through a legislative process that requires a simple majority (61 MPs out of 120): this is a fallback clause that avoids control of the Supreme Court.

Earlier, the parliament adopted in the first reading another draft law, which significantly reduces the probability of recognition of acting the prime minister is incapacitated.

Since the introduction of the bill in early January by the cabinet formed in late December by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, one of the most right-wing governments in Israel’s history, there have been weekly demonstrations across the country to denounce what opponents of the reform describe as an anti-democratic drift.

In general, the draft reform in this form would significantly limit the prerogatives of the Supreme Court and would actually give the majority political coalition the power to appoint judges.

However, the government says the reform is needed to restore the balance of power between lawmakers and an “independent” but not “all-powerful” judiciary, according to Netanyahu, who has accused the Supreme Court of politicization.

According to detractors, the project, on the contrary, creates the risk of drifting towards a model of democracy, as in Hungary.

On Thursday, Israeli President Isaac Herzog called for a halt to the ongoing legislative process, calling the current draft a “threat to the foundations of democracy.”

Herzog began mediating between the opposition and the government to reach a more consensual text that could be passed by parliament and ease concerns expressed by opponents of the reform.

On Monday, a compromise proposal was presented to the legislative committee of the parliament by a former minister of justice, a university director and a law professor.

The president of this commission, Simha Rotman, believed that it could “become a basis for negotiations,” writes AFP.