Today, a select committee approved in its first full parliamentary reading the controversial judicial reform bill that has sparked a historic wave of protests in Israel over the past ten weeks.

The Knesset (parliament) needs three more readings before the law goes into effect.

The right-wing/far-right coalition government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to speed up the implementation of key elements of the controversial reform before the end of this month.

The bill provides that a three-quarters majority in the Knesset is required to remove the prime minister from office.

This reform is intended to prevent the influence of the Supreme Court or the Attorney General’s Office on an impeachment petition.

Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara warned that the reform could lead to “absurd situations” as it hinders any legal oversight.

The amendments are intended to allow parliament to overturn decisions of the Supreme Court by a simple majority vote.

Netanyahu’s government also wants to limit the ability of the Supreme Court to strike down laws.

Hundreds of thousands of citizens, even from the ranks of the army, took to the streets over the weekend in many cities of the country to protest against the plan of this government, which seems to have divided the country.

Despite calls, including from President Isaac Herzog to halt the legislative process in order to allow dialogue, attempts to reach a compromise have so far been unsuccessful.

Critics say judicial reform threatens the separation of powers and warns that Israel could turn into a dictatorship.

Source: APE-MPE, Reuters.