Knesset approves law giving politicians power over judge selection

On March 27, 2025, the Israeli Knesset passed a law handing the ruling coalition full control over judicial appointments, cementing a dramatic shift in Israel’s political structure. The vote—67 to 1, with opposition members boycotting the session, formalized what critics have called a judicial coup: a calculated power grab by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies to eliminate institutional constraints on their rule.

The law strips the Israel Bar Association of its seats on the Judicial Selection Committee and replaces them with political appointees, giving the government a guaranteed majority on the nine-member panel. With control over judicial appointments now firmly in the hands of the coalition, the independence of Israel’s courts, long viewed as a pillar of democratic balance, is effectively over.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin, who engineered the reform, claimed the law restores “judicial balance.” But the context is clear: this is not a response to dysfunction or public demand—it’s the culmination of a years-long campaign to reshape Israel’s judiciary in the image of its most authoritarian leaders.

A system dismantled from within

Israel has never had a formal constitution. Instead, its democracy has relied on a series of Basic Laws, judicial precedents, and fragile norms that held political power in check. Chief among those restraints was the Supreme Court, which historically acted as the final arbiter on human rights, administrative overreach, and minority protections.

That role has now been neutralized.

The timing of the vote is no accident. Netanyahu is still under criminal indictment for corruption. His far-right government is under international scrutiny for its role in the escalating violence across the West Bank and Gaza. By stripping the courts of independence, the government ensures that future legal challenges—whether domestic or international—can be quietly managed or dismissed.

Civil resistance and the threat of collapse

The law’s passage has reignited mass protests in major cities, echoing the demonstrations that shut down parts of Israel in 2023. Then, civil resistance forced a temporary pause. This time, Netanyahu has pushed through without compromise, wagering that momentum and power will outweigh dissent.

Protesters and former security officials are warning that the country is entering a phase of deep constitutional crisis. Benny Gantz, former Defense Minister, said the law “could push Israel to the brink of civil war.” Reservist units, pilots, and intelligence veterans—many of whom protested in 2023—have begun organizing again, warning that their service cannot support a regime that abandons democracy.

This is not theoretical. With the courts captured and no formal constitution in place, the Knesset now governs without meaningful restraint. Minority protections, civil rights, and oversight mechanisms—already under pressure—can be undone with a simple majority vote.

Power, not reform

Netanyahu’s new law is not about reform. It is not about restoring balance. It is about eliminating the last institution capable of holding his government accountable. What’s left is a political system that still resembles democracy, but no longer functions like one.

Israel has entered a new era, not through a military coup or a violent uprising, but through legislation. The judiciary has fallen. The consequences will follow.