By Christian Edwards, CNN
From CNN's Amir Tal in Jerusalem
At least 19 protests have been arrested around the Knesset, Israel Police spokesperson Dean Elsdunne told CNN, as thousands demonstrated against the vote to limit the Supreme Court's power.
Protesters have been surrounding the Knesset since early Monday morning, locking arms and sitting in the streets to show their opposition to the bil.
From CNN's Amir Tal in Jerusalem
Israel’s umbrella labor union, the Histadrut, warned moments after the government passed the reasonableness bill that if the government continued to legislate unilaterally, there would be serious consequences.
The Histadrut stopped short of announcing strike action in response to the passage of the law on Monday -- but did announce preparations to declare a “labor dispute,” giving the union the power to declare a strike in the future.
From CNN staff
The Knesset has passed the so-called reasonableness bill, which will strip the Supreme Court of the power to declare government decisions unreasonable.
The reasonableness doctrine is not unique to Israel’s judiciary. The principle is used in a number of countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.
The standard is commonly used by courts there to determine the constitutionality or lawfulness of a given legislation, and allows judges to make sure that decisions made by public officials are “reasonable.”
The standard was used this year when Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed key ally Aryeh Deri from all ministerial posts, in compliance with an Israeli High Court ruling that it was unreasonable to appoint him to positions in government due to his criminal convictions and because he had said in court last year that he would retire from public life.
What else is in the package?: The reasonableness bill is just one part of a broader package of reforms to Israel's judicial system.
Other parts are aiming to give the hard-right coalition government more control of the appointment of judges, and would remove independent legal advisers from government ministries.
From CNN’s Amir Tal in Jerusalem
The controversial “reasonableness” bill passed Israel’s Knesset Monday by a vote of 64-0.
All members of the governing coalition voted for it.
All members of the opposition left the chamber while the roll call vote was taking place.
From CNN's Amir Tal in Jerusalem
The roll call on the final vote on the reasonableness bill has begun.
All opposition lawmakers left the Knesset chamber in protest as the roll call began.
From CNN's Richard Allen Greene, Amir Tal, Hadas Gold and Ivana Kottasová
Israeli lawmakers are set to vote on the first part of the government’s sweeping plan to weaken the power of the country’s courts on Monday, despite six months of street protests, parliamentary maneuvering, compromise talks and increasingly urgent warnings from the White House.
What’s in the bill?: The Israeli Parliament, the Knesset, will vote Monday evening on what has been dubbed the “reasonableness” bill. If passed, the law would strip the Supreme Court of the power to declare government decisions unreasonable.
What do its supporters say?: Prime Minister Netanyahu and his allies call the measures “reforms” and say they are required to rebalance powers between the courts, lawmakers and the governments.
Why do many oppose it?: But opponents of the plan call it a “coup” and say it threatens to turn Israel into a dictatorship by removing the most significant checks on government actions and concentrating power in the hands of the executive.
The Israel Bar Association is already preparing a legal challenge to the bill, the lawyers’ group said Sunday.
Its executive, the Bar Council, is holding an emergency meeting to approve the decision to petition the Supreme Court to cancel the reasonableness law if it passes on Monday, the Bar said.
The Bar is also warning it will shut down “as an act of protest against the anti-democratic legislative process,” the statement said. That means the Bar Association would not provide professional services to its members, not that lawyers would go on strike.
What else is in the package?: Other elements of the judicial overhaul would give the far-right coalition government more control of the appointment of judges, and would remove independent legal advisers from government ministries. Those bills have not advanced as far in the legislative process at the reasonableness bill.
At least 19 protests have been arrested around the Knesset, Israel Police spokesperson Dean Elsdunne told CNN, as thousands demonstrated against the vote to limit the Supreme Court's power.
Protesters have been surrounding the Knesset since early Monday morning, locking arms and sitting in the streets to show their opposition to the bil.
Israel’s umbrella labor union, the Histadrut, warned moments after the government passed the reasonableness bill that if the government continued to legislate unilaterally, there would be serious consequences.
The Histadrut stopped short of announcing strike action in response to the passage of the law on Monday -- but did announce preparations to declare a “labor dispute,” giving the union the power to declare a strike in the future.
The Knesset has passed the so-called reasonableness bill, which will strip the Supreme Court of the power to declare government decisions unreasonable.
The reasonableness doctrine is not unique to Israel’s judiciary. The principle is used in a number of countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.
The standard is commonly used by courts there to determine the constitutionality or lawfulness of a given legislation, and allows judges to make sure that decisions made by public officials are “reasonable.”
The standard was used this year when Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed key ally Aryeh Deri from all ministerial posts, in compliance with an Israeli High Court ruling that it was unreasonable to appoint him to positions in government due to his criminal convictions and because he had said in court last year that he would retire from public life.
What else is in the package?: The reasonableness bill is just one part of a broader package of reforms to Israel's judicial system.
Other parts are aiming to give the hard-right coalition government more control of the appointment of judges, and would remove independent legal advisers from government ministries.
The controversial “reasonableness” bill passed Israel’s Knesset Monday by a vote of 64-0.
All members of the governing coalition voted for it.
All members of the opposition left the chamber while the roll call vote was taking place.
The roll call on the final vote on the reasonableness bill has begun.
All opposition lawmakers left the Knesset chamber in protest as the roll call began.
Israeli lawmakers are set to vote on the first part of the government’s sweeping plan to weaken the power of the country’s courts on Monday, despite six months of street protests, parliamentary maneuvering, compromise talks and increasingly urgent warnings from the White House.
What’s in the bill?: The Israeli Parliament, the Knesset, will vote Monday evening on what has been dubbed the “reasonableness” bill. If passed, the law would strip the Supreme Court of the power to declare government decisions unreasonable.
What do its supporters say?: Prime Minister Netanyahu and his allies call the measures “reforms” and say they are required to rebalance powers between the courts, lawmakers and the governments.
Why do many oppose it?: But opponents of the plan call it a “coup” and say it threatens to turn Israel into a dictatorship by removing the most significant checks on government actions and concentrating power in the hands of the executive.
The Israel Bar Association is already preparing a legal challenge to the bill, the lawyers’ group said Sunday.
Its executive, the Bar Council, is holding an emergency meeting to approve the decision to petition the Supreme Court to cancel the reasonableness law if it passes on Monday, the Bar said.
The Bar is also warning it will shut down “as an act of protest against the anti-democratic legislative process,” the statement said. That means the Bar Association would not provide professional services to its members, not that lawyers would go on strike.
What else is in the package?: Other elements of the judicial overhaul would give the far-right coalition government more control of the appointment of judges, and would remove independent legal advisers from government ministries. Those bills have not advanced as far in the legislative process at the reasonableness bill.
