Israel - January 2025

On 26 January, the Judicial Selection Committee appointed Isaac Amit as President of the Supreme Court, ending a 16-month vacancy. However, Justice Minister Yariv Levin refused to recognize the authority of the newly appointed President, exacerbating growing tensions between the courts and the executive. Levin, who opposes the seniority-based appointment process of the Judicial Selection Committee, called Amit’s nomination “illegitimate.” Levin also boycotted the swearing-in ceremony of Amit, alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The executive’s refusal to acknowledge a Supreme Court President appointment is unprecedented and, observers argue that it compromises the cooperation necessary for the courts' effective functioning, especially given the President’s key role in overseeing judicial appointments, case assignments, disciplinary panels, and judge transfers or removals.

Sources: The Times of Israel (1), The Times of Israel (2), Haaretz, The Jerusalem Post, Israel Democracy Institute (1), Israel Democracy Institute (2), Haaretz (2), The Times of Israel (3)

On 9 January, Israeli Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar introduced a new judicial reform bill aimed at restructuring the Judicial Selection Committee. This move follows earlier judicial reform proposals made in 2023, some of which were struck down by the Supreme Court in 2024 following widespread protests. The new proposed changes include replacing the two representatives of the Israel Bar Association with one lawyer appointed by the government coalition and one by the opposition, thereby increasing political representation on the committee. Additionally, the bill seeks to reduce the majority required for Supreme Court appointments from the current 7-2 to 5-4. A mechanism to prevent deadlocks in the event of persistent vacancies is also included. Observers warn that, despite being presented as a 'compromise solution,' the new bill could politicize judicial appointments and undermine the judiciary's independence if enacted.

Sources: The Jerusalem Post, The Times of Israel, The Israel Democracy Institute