Judicial reform, 'deep state,' and more: Netanyahu tightens his grip on Israel - analysis

The Knesset’s winter session, which ended early in April, was dominated by the return of the government’s controversial judicial reform and the upcoming summer session promises more divisive legislation.

Despite the fact that the country is still at war and 59 hostages remain in captivity in Gaza for more than 500 days, it appears that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is more determined than ever to push through a radical political agenda, removing the gatekeepers of Israeli democracy and replacing them with people he considers more loyal.

The first year of Netanyahu’s government in 2023 was dominated by efforts to shift the balance of power away from the judiciary to the executive. Opponents of the radical reforms claimed the measures would undermine Israeli democracy by weakening the traditional system of checks and balances, and hundreds of thousands took part in weekly protests. In response to the Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023 the coalition suspended the judicial overhaul legislation, as it urged the country to unite around the war effort.

Pushing out the key independent gatekeepers critical of the government

But in recent months the coalition renewed the legislative drive while acting against key independent ga...
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