The Europeans are concerned that any law curbing the power of Israel’s judiciary could undermine the Jewish state’s democratic character, according to Channel 2.
The European Union has communicated to Israeli official its concern over proposed changes to laws governing the standing of the judiciary, Channel 2 reported on Friday.
European officials said they were watching Israeli coalition talks with apprehension, particularly in light of demands made by Likud politicians to enact reforms that would grant the legislature greater power in shaping the character of the Supreme Court.
The Europeans are concerned that any law curbing the power of Israel’s judiciary could undermine the Jewish state’s democratic character, thus imperiling certain initiatives with Brussels.
In an interview with Channel 2, Bayit Yehudi MK Ayelet Shaked, who is in line for a ministerial position if and when her party consummates an agreement with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud, broached the issue of checks and balances.
“I think there needs to be a change in the way we appoint judges,” she said. “We need to alter the committee that appoints judges so that the makeup of the judges will be more heterogenous.”
Shaked said that “this isn’t a left-right issue” but one of “judicial activism.”
“I want the Supreme Court to be strong and of high quality, but also more heterogenous,” she said. “Giving politicians greater say in picking judges is not illegitimate, in my view.”
Bayit Yehudi asked that the coalition guidelines being drafted include supporting legislation that would add politicians to the judicial selection committee.