The severe political storm in Israel

Abstract

In January 2023, soon after forming a sixth Israeli government, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began advancing a far-reaching package of judicial reforms that, if adopted, would fundamentally change the relationship between the judiciary and other branches of government. The reforms would benefit Netanyahu politically and legally, given that he is on trial for corruption and other criminal charges. Public debate over the proposed reforms has precipitated the worst domestic crisis in Israel’s history and has galvanised a broad cross-section of society into joining a new, activist, liberal-centrist camp, with potentially far-reaching political consequences.