Israeli law allows political control over judicial appointments

• Israel’s parliament passed a law expanding the power of elected officials to appoint judges, defying a long-standing protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s judicial reforms.
• The approval comes as Netanyahu’s government is in a stand-off with the Supreme Court following the dismissal of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and the sacking of Ronen Bar, head of the internal security agency.
• Critics argue the new law is a “nail in the coffin of Israeli democracy,” while the Opposition views it as a sign of Netanyahu’s authoritarian shift towards an illiberal democracy.
• The legislation was approved by a vote of 67 in favour and one against, with the Opposition boycotting the vote.