A contentious hearing took place Sunday at Israel's High Court of Justice regarding the composition of the Judicial Selection Committee, a central issue in the ongoing judicial reform debate. Attendees reportedly exchanged heated remarks; details of the proceedings and any ruling are expected later.
The High Court of Justice convened Sunday evening for a tempestuous hearing on the makeup of the Judicial Selection Committee, a flashpoint in the long-running dispute over judicial reform. According to reports, the session saw sharp exchanges between justices and petitioners, with one participant quoted as saying, "Take your hands off Israeli democracy." The hearing began at 06:45 Jerusalem with an expanded 11-justice panel, as The Zioneer reported at that time. Later, MKs Tali Gottlieb (Likud) and Karin Elharrar (Yesh Atid) arrived at the court, as noted in a subsequent update.
The hearing concerns a petition challenging the composition of the committee, which determines judicial appointments. The Knesset amendment under review, passed in March 2025, removes Israel Bar Association representatives from the committee and replaces them with Knesset-chosen jurists, while eliminating the judges' veto over Supreme Court appointments. Chief Justice Yitzhak Amit opened the session by asserting the court's authority to review and invalidate Basic Laws, as reported at 06:45 Jerusalem. Reform proponents and opponents have clashed repeatedly over the balance of power between politicians and judges in the selection process.
As The Zioneer noted in its first report on the matter, if the court intervenes this would mark the second time it has struck down a Basic Law, after nullifying the reasonableness-stripping law earlier. A ruling has not yet been issued; the court's decision on the amendment's constitutionality remains pending.
5 developments
- DevelopingMK Kastel slams High Court direction in judicial selection hearing as 'scandal'
- DevelopingJustice Stein questioned on political incentives for judges under selection reform
- StrongMK Simcha Rothman defends judicial selection reform ahead of High Court ruling
- StrongChief Justice asserts High Court can strike Basic Laws as 11-justice panel hears selection reform
Source and signal
- Internal intake