Israel President Isaac Herzog and the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) top lawyer have expressed their support for the Supreme Court and the importance of an independent judicial system amid increasing tensions between the government and the judiciary in Israel.
Israel President Isaac Herzog emphasized the significance of safeguarding the independence and strength of the courts, legal advisers, and the prosecutor’s office, describing them as fundamental to any democratic society. He noted that recent events have made citizens more aware of the crucial role the legal system plays in shaping the character of the state.
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Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara had called for the High Court of Justice to strike down a government law that limits judicial review, a move seen as unprecedented. The attorney general’s refusal to support the government’s position and the government’s use of independent counsel to argue its case in the High Court have heightened tensions.
The contentious law in question, known as the reasonableness limitation law, restricts the High Court from annulling governmental decisions based on the claim that they are unreasonable. Supporters argue it prevents the unelected court from imposing its worldview on the elected government, while opponents argue it undermines checks and balances and could harm individual rights.
The IDF’s top lawyer, Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, highlighted the Supreme Court’s role in strengthening the military. She explained that the court’s independent and professional oversight ensures that the IDF’s actions align with Israeli and international law, bolstering the international legal legitimacy of the military’s actions. Tomer-Yerushalmi warned that measures perceived as harming the independence and effectiveness of the judicial system could undermine the protective aura it provides to the military and harm Israel’s security interests on the international stage.
Source: Times Of Israel