Israelis protested in opposition to plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s authorities to overtake the judicial system and in assist of the Supreme Court in Jerusalem on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Ohad Zwigenberg/AP

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Ohad Zwigenberg/AP

Israelis protested in opposition to plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s authorities to overtake the judicial system and in assist of the Supreme Court in Jerusalem on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Ohad Zwigenberg/AP

Israel’s Supreme Court has struck down a contentious legislation permitted final July by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s authorities that aimed to rework the nation’s primary judiciary legislation.

The tried judicial overhaul by Netanyahu’s proper wing parliamentary coalition sparked months of protests by Israelis.

Critics said the Netanyahu government hoped to change the courts to erode minority rights, make it tougher to combat official corruption and pave the best way for the annexation of the West Bank.

In a press release posted on the social media site X, Israel’s Supreme Court stated the 15 justices selected a slim 8-7 majority in favor of revoking the change.

A broader majority of 12 justices dominated that Israel’s Supreme Court had the authority to overrule the change.

The court docket held that the change would have brought on “severe and unprecedented harm to the core characteristics of Israel as a democratic state,” the court wrote.

“The idea was to remove the checks and balances, which were very poor to begin with, and permit any government legislation,” stated Noa Sattath, government director of the Association for Civil Rights in Israel and an opponent of the adjustments, in a latest interview with NPR.

After the Oct. 7 assault on Israel by Hamas, Netanyahu suspended efforts to alter the nation’s judiciary.

On Monday, Netanyahu’s Likud occasion stated the ruling was in opposition to the desire of the folks at a time of struggle.

This summer season, Netanyahu’s right-wing political companions had recommended they could problem the legitimacy of the court docket if it overturned the legislation, which might arrange a possible constitutional disaster in Israel.

As the struggle with Hamas continues in Gaza, Monday’s court docket choice additional complicates Netanyahu’s tenure as Prime Minister.

In interviews this summer season, he wouldn’t decide to accepting the court docket’s choice ought to it overturn the legislation.

It is unclear whether or not the federal government will search to make additional adjustments to the judiciary’s powers following this ruling.

The Israel Democracy Institute, a analysis group that works to bolster democratic establishments, praised the choice, calling it “important and precedent-setting.”

“Now more than ever, while our sons and daughters are on the front lines fighting for their country, it is critical that they know that Israeli democracy is strong and unassailable,” the Institute said in a press release.