The Israeli Supreme Court won’t block immediate implementation of a new law curbing judicial oversight of government actions.
Instead, the court told the Movement for Quality Government in Israel that its appeal against the law would be heard in September.
The parliament passed the law on Monday amid nationwide protests and a boycott of the vote by the opposition.
The law removes from judges the power to declare an appointment or decision invalid because it is “unreasonable.”
The ruling coalition of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says such a basis for judging is so subjective as to be open to abuse.
The opposition and protesters counter that because the executive in Israel controls the legislative branch, the only check on its power is the court system, which needs powerful tools, including reasonableness.
Without a strong court, they say, Israel will slide toward autocracy. The opposition is especially worried because Netanyahu is under indictment for fraud and bribery and has brought into government ultra-nationalist parties vowing to pursue hard-line policies.
