Israel's parliament passes law limiting Supreme Court's power, sparking mass protests

[Zephyr]

Israel's parliament passes law limiting Supreme Court's power, sparking mass protests

Israel's Parliament approved divisive legislation Monday that remakes part of the country’s justice system.

www.yahoo.com

Israel's Parliament approved divisive legislation Monday that remakes part of the country’s justice system, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was released from the hospital after having a pacemaker fitted.

The law weakens Supreme Court oversight of the government, a move that critics claim will erode Israel's democracy and threatens the secular character of its state institutions. It was approved despite months of protests, the biggest in Israel's history, that have engulfed the nation's military, business and legal communities.

Opposition lawmakers, who boycotted the vote, shouted "shame" as the "reasonableness" bill was approved.

Netanyahu’s sudden hospitalization over the weekend for the implant of a pacemaker added another twist to an already dramatic series of events. Netanyahu's doctors said Sunday the procedure had gone smoothly. In a short video statement from the hospital late Sunday, Netanyahu, 73, said he felt fine and thanked his doctors for his treatment and the public for wishing him well. He said he planned to vote Monday on the reforms.

"I want you to know that tomorrow morning I’m joining my colleagues at the Knesset," he said in the video.