JERUSALEM: A junior conservative judge has started a campaign to become president of Israel’s Supreme Court, posing another challenge to Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right government.
As per the procedures a committee responsible for the selection of the president of the country’s top court has always nominated the most senior judge for the post.
Court’s incumbent president, Esther Hayut will be retiring in October. Judge Yosef Elron’s decision to suggest his name for the presidency of the Supreme Court would end the tradition.
As per the normal seniority system Isaac Amit, would replace Hayut.
Elron to further politicize top court
It is believed that Elron has proposed his name for the top judge with the support of Justice Minister Yariv Levin, the chief architect of the controversial judicial reforms. Elron’s move would further politicize the court.
The extremist government of Netanyahu believes judicial overhaul would give politicians more authority over the courts and help them stop unelected judges from carrying out their judicial activism. The opposition parties argue the step would strengthen the authoritarian government.
Last month the parliament passed the reform package, which bars the judiciary from reviewing some of the government’s decisions. Benjamin Netanyahu has offered to sit with the opposition leaders to resolve the matter that has triggered country wide protests.
